* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] UH, THE [PRESENTATIONS] CHAIR WOULD NOW RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION TO CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL VEG OUT CHALLENGE AND RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH. HOW ARE YOU? I'M GREAT. HOW ARE YOU? I'M DOING WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TIMM, NOW MAYOR PRO TIMM. SO SUCH A, A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TODAY TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN SHE ASKED BECAUSE I SAID, ABSOLUTELY. I REMEMBER WHEN THIS ORGANIZATION STARTED, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL ARE JUST STILL GOING STRONG, SUCH A NEED AND, AND SUCH A GREAT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, GRACIE, FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR SO MANY YEARS. THANK SO, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION IS FOR THE 2025 VEG OUT WITH RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. I THINK YOU'VE GOT VEGETABLES HERE TODAY TOO. WHEREAS IN MARCH, 2025, HOUSTONIANS ARE ONCE AGAIN INVITED TO LEAD THE NATION BY PARTICIPATING IN THE VEG OUT, A 30 DAY CHALLENGE WITH RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, COMMITTING TO EAT 30 DIFFERENT VEGETABLES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MARCH. AND WHEREAS THE VEG VEG OUT CHALLENGE WAS CREATED TO ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER AMERICANS OF ALL AGES TO INCORPORATE MORE VEGETABLES IN THEIR DIET. THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS HAVE PARTICIPATED SINCE 2012 WITH PARTICIPANTS FROM ALL OVER 50 STATES JOINING THE CHALLENGE, LEADING TO THE CONSUMPTION OVER OF OVER A MILLION VEGETABLES ACROSS AMERICA. AND WHEREAS THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ALL HOUSTONIANS BY CHANGING HOW WE UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE, AND CONSUME FOOD, THE FOUNDATION EMPOWERS CHILDREN TO MAKE HEALTHIER EATING CHOICES THROUGH ITS SEED TO PLATE NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN BUILDING AND PREPARING HEALTHIER MEALS USING FRESH VEGETABLES GROWN AT ITS HOPE FARMS URBAN AGRICULTURAL SHOWCASE AND EDUCATION CENTER IN SUNNYSIDE. AND WHEREAS THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE HEALTHY EATING IS THE NORM AND WHERE NUTRITIOUS FOOD IS SHARED, APPRECIATED, AND CELEBRATED. WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION FOR INSPIRING HOUSTONIANS AND AMERICANS TO ADOPT HEALTHIER EATING HABITS. THE CITY ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO ACT, ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN VEG OUT WITH RECIPE FOR SUCCESS CHALLENGE IN MARCH, AND WISHES EVERYONE A DELICIOUS AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATU MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZE MARCH 25TH, 25, 20 25, AS VEG OUT WITH RECIPES FOR SUCCESS MONTH IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. I LOVE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, YOU WERE THERE AT THE VERY BEGINNING, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ENCOURAGING ALL HOUSTONIANS TO JOIN YOU. EVERYBODY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE MISSING OUT ON WITH THEIR CARROTS, BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S HELP IN BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM OF POOR NUTRITION AND INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. AT RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION, WE DECIDED TO USE THE VERY SAME TACTICS THAT HELPED US SUCCESSFULLY CHANGE THE EATING BEHAVIOR OF OVER 50,000 CHILDREN TO MAKE HEALTHY EATING MORE FUN FOR EVERYONE. SINCE 2005, WE HAVE TAUGHT EMPOWERED AND INSPIRED HEALTHY EATING WITH PROGRAMS LIKE VEGGIE PLUS, OUR AWARD-WINNING SEED TO PLATE NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND OUR EXTRAORDINARY HOPE FARMS, URBAN AGRICULTURAL SHOWCASE AND TRAINING CENTER IN THE HEART OF SUNNYSIDE, JUST 12 MINUTES FROM WHERE WE STAND TODAY. TOGETHER, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MANY THINGS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR HOUSTONIANS TO LIVE A HEALTHIER LIFE, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US. OVER 30% OF US ALL HOUSTONIANS ARE OBESE OR CRITICALLY OVERWEIGHT, AND WE'RE SUFFERING FROM AN ARRAY OF CHRONIC DISEASES THAT COME WITH THE TERRITORY. HEALTH EXPERTS ACTUALLY TELL US THAT THERE'S NO BETTER, EASIER WAY TO IMPROVE OUR HEALTH THEN SIMPLY BY EATING MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, WE SHOULD ALL BE EATING NINE SERVINGS OF FRUITS AND VEGGIES A DAY. WHO DOES THAT? NOBODY. [00:05:01] RIGHT? OVER HALF OF HOUSTONIANS, JUST LIKE AVERAGE AMERICANS, ONLY EAT ONE VEGGIE A DAY. WHAT IS IT? FRENCH FRIES. OKAY. AT RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION. OUR MISSION IS TO COMBAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY BY CHANGING THE WAY OUR CHILDREN UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE, AND EAT THEIR FOOD, AND MOBILIZING THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE HEALTHIER HYATT DIETS FOR CHILDREN. THAT'S WHY WE GAMIFIED HEALTHY EATING, RIGHT? THAT'S HOW WE WORK WITH THE KIDS. IT WORKS WITH YOU. IT WORKS WITH YOU. IT WORKS WITH YOU. IN 2005, IT WAS YOU RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM. YOU HELPED US LAUNCH THE VEG OUT CHALLENGE AS A DELICIOUS WAY TO ENCOURAGE HOUSTONIANS, AND THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS HAVE TAKEN THE CHALLENGE, SO HAVE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, THEY'VE EXPANDED THEIR VEGGIE REPERTOIRE, AND WE'VE EATEN TONS, LITERALLY TONS OF FRESH VEGGIES IN THE PROCESS. THE IDEA IS TO EAT 30 DIFFERENT VEGGIES OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH. THAT DOES NOT MEAN GREEN BEANS EVERY DAY FOR A MONTH. THAT MEANS 30 DIFFERENT VEGGIES RIGHT NOW. FAMILIES ARE VEGGING OUT, SCHOOLS ARE VEG OUT COMPANIES ARE VEG OUT AS WORKS, WORKS SITE WELLNESS, AND IN FRONT OF YOU, WE BOUGHT A TASTE OF HOPE FARMS. DID YOU TASTE THEM? HAVE YOU EVER TASTED SUCH A YUMMY CARROT? SEE THESE LADIES OVER HERE, THEY JUST PICKED THESE CARROTS YESTERDAY AND BROUGHT 'EM TO YOU, RIGHT? WE LOVE THOSE GUYS. SO AT HOPE FARMS, AND WE'RE GONNA LAUNCH MARCH ONE, WHICH IS SATURDAY, WE'LL LAUNCH VE OUT AT HOPE FARMS WITH FREE COOKING CLASSES, FREE GARDENING CLASSES, KIDS CRAFTS GAMES, AND LOTS AND LOTS OF FRESH FARM PRODUCE. PLEASE COME BY. IT'S SO CLOSE. IT'S SO EASY. SEE THE INFLUENCE AND THE IMPACT THAT A FARM IN THE CENTER, CENTER OF TOWN CAN HAVE ON BRINGING FRESH PRODUCE RIGHT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHILE YOU'RE CRUNCHING DOWN ON YOUR CARROT TODAY, CONSIDER HOW YOU CAN HELP US EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF URBAN FARMS IN HOUSTON AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO PUT HEALTHY FOOD ON THE TABLE. MAYBE WE CAN SWEEP A WA YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO CATEGORY FOR FARM. YOU'RE EITHER LIKE A RESIDENCE OR YOU'RE A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS. THERE'S NO LIKE CATEGORY FOR FARM. I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT, RIGHT? SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IT. GET ON IT. RIGHT? LET'S SWEEP AWAY SOME OF THE REGULATORY OBSTACLES FOR CREATING MORE FARMS IN THE CITY. WITH EVERYONE'S HELP, WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE HEALTHY PRODUCE INTO OUR NEIGHBOR'S HANDS AND GET THE ENTIRE CITY TO EAT THEIR VEGGIES. LET'S SHOW THE REST OF AMERICA HOW IT'S DONE IN HOUSTON. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER. AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR RECIPES FOR SUCCESS, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I KNOW IT'S SUCH IMPORTANT WORK AND, UM, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBER CARTER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER HOUSTON TO CELEBRATE JULIUS YOUNG YOUTH OF THE YEAR DAY MAYOR. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, PRO TIM. UM, WHAT AN EXCITING DAY. TODAY I HAD A, A GROUP TO VISIT ME FROM THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, STELLAR GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AND, UH, WE HAD ABOUT A 20 MINUTE CONVERSATION OF ALL OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ALL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, AND THEY'RE OFF TO COLLEGE NEXT YEAR. BUT, UM, ALL DUE TO THE GREAT, UH, INFLUENCE OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING, UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM OVER THE YEARS YOU'RE HERE. WE'VE GOT A WHOLE GROUP BRING THAT WHOLE GROUP UP. UM, AND, UH, REALLY JUST, UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB IN OUR CITY IN WORKING WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND IT'S JUST A, A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND IT'S GROWN SO MUCH OVER THE YEARS, BUT HERE ARE MY NEW FRIENDS. HOW Y'ALL DOING? GREAT. SO TODAY WE'RE HERE FOR A PROCLAMATION FOR THE 2025 JULIUS YOUNG YOUTH OF THE YEAR, AND THEY ALL DESERVE YOUTH OF THE YEAR, THE YOUTH. WHEREAS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER HOUSTON HOSTED A MOMENTOUS EVENT TO HONOR FIVE [00:10:01] REMARKABLE. JULIUS YOUNG YOUTH OF THE YEAR FINALIST THIS SPECIAL OCCASION HIGHLIGHTED THEIR PERSONAL JOURNEYS, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND CON CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHILE AWARDING EDUCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS THAT RECOGNIZE THEIR DEDICATION TO EXCELLENT EXCELLENCE. AND I CAN'T READ THE JU JU, WHEREAS THE JULIUS YOUNG YOUTH OF THE YEAR PROGRAM IN THE IS THE PREMIER YOUTH RECOGNITION INITIATIVE OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER HOUSTON, CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS AND LIMITLESS POTENTIAL OF TEEN CLUB MEMBERS WHO EMBODY LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, ACADEMIC, EX EXCELLENCE, AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. AND WHEREAS THE JULIUS YOUNG YOUTH OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES OR ROLE MODELS WHOSE COURAGE, DETERMINATION, AND VISION INSPIRE THEIR PEERS AND YOUNGER GENERATIONS SERVING AS SHINING EXAMPLES OF WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED TO DREAM AND SUCCEED. AND WHEREAS ONE OUTSTANDING FINALIST WILL BE NAMED THE 25 20 25 JULIUS YOUNG YOUTH OF THE YEAR EARNING THE DISTINCTION OF REPRESENTING HOUSTON AT A REGIONAL LEVEL. THIS HONOR MARKS THE BEGINNING OF AN INSPIRING JOURNEY AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB YOUTH, AND A VOICE FOR HOUSTON SHOWCASING THE POWER OF PER PERSEVERANCE COMMITMENT AND HOPE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER HOUSTON AND THE JULIUS YOUNG YOUTH OF THE YEAR SAY THAT THREE TIMES, REALLY FAST PROGRAM FOR PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY, EQUIPPING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD US INTO A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THEREFORE, I MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025 AS JULIUS YOUNG YOUTH OF THE YEAR DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE ACTUAL 2025 YOUTH OF THE YEAR COME AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON, YOU ALL. MY NAME IS BROOKLYN, WASHINGTON, AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER HOUSTON YOUTH OF THE YEAR. THIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT. THIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF LIFE CHANGING AND EXTRAORDINARY, AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT AND SHARE THOSE INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE SHARED, THAT HAVE SHAPED ME THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ME OF GROWTH, OF BELONGING. FROM THE MOMENT I WALKED THROUGH THOSE BLUE DOORS, I KNEW I HAD FOUND A SECOND HOME. I HAD FOUND A PLACE THAT WOULD CHALLENGE ME, THAT WOULD LOVE ME, THAT WOULD SUPPORT ME, THAT'LL FUEL MY PASSION FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF MY AGE AND EVEN BEYOND. THE YOUTH OF THE YEAR PROGRAM HAS BEEN AN EXTENSION OF THAT, PUSHING ME TO DEVELOP MY VOICE, SHARE MY STORY, AND STEP INTO THE TRUE ROLE OF A LEADER AND ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. ONE OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE PARTS OF THE EX EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THE OPPORTUNITIES I'VE HAD TO CONNECT WITH INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS ALLOWED, UH, OH , THE, THE JULIUS YOUNG YOUTH OF THE YEAR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. I'VE LEARNED VALUABLE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, CAREER INSIGHTS, AND THE POWER OF NETWORKING. AND SPEAKING OF NETWORKING, THIS JOURNEY HAS INTRODUCED ME TO SO MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO SHARE MY PASSION FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE. EVERY INTERACTION, EVERY STORY, AND EVERY CONNECTION HAS FUELED MY VISION FOR THE FUTURE. TO EXPAND THE REACH OF BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, ENSURE THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON HAS HAD THE INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE BEEN OFFERED THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. BUT NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN YOUNG LEADERS LIKE MYSELF. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO SINCERELY THANK OUR CITY MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY COUNCILWOMAN TWILA CARTER, FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. AND I'M TRULY THANK, THANKFUL FOR YOUR DEDICATION. THANK YOU FOR EMPOWERING OPPORTUNITIES TO EMPOWER US TO SUCCEED. AS I CONTINUE THIS JOURNEY, I'VE CARRIED THE LESSONS I'VE LEARNED, THE PEOPLE I'VE MET, AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE SHAPED ME. I'M MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER TO GIVE BACK, TO LEAD, TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO DREAM BIG AND TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN A PART OF MY STORY, MY MENTORS, MY CLUB FAMILY, AND EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY. TOGETHER WE ARE BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE, ONE YOUNG LEADER AT A TIME. THANK YOU. WOW. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND MAYOR PROTON FOR ING THIS GROUP. KEVIN, IF I WOULD'VE KNOWN YOU WOULD'VE BEEN HERE, I WOULD'VE, [00:15:01] UH, COME DOWN TO HUG YOUR NECK OF, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE GET TO SEE EACH OTHER AND, UH, BRAVO TO YOU IN YOUR LEADERSHIP. I RECALL WHEN YOU WERE APPOINTED CEO OF, OF THIS AGENCY AND, AND, AND JUST THE FRUITS OF YOUR EFFORT IS VERY EVIDENT. MS. BROOKLYN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. IT IS VERY CLEAR WHY YOU ARE, UH, THE, UH, YOUNG LEADER AWARD, UH, AWARDEE OF THE YEAR, UM, AND TO YOUR PEERS AND TO EVERYONE, UM, THAT, UM, LOOKS AT AND, AND AND EXPERIENCES THE CLUB, UM, AS A SECOND HOME AND A PLACE TO STABILIZE AND TO GROW AND HAVE NEW EXPERIENCES. SO THANK YOU AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR FUTURE AND, AND EVERYONE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WILL BE WILLING TO SUPPORT YOU IN THE FUTURE. SO DON'T FORGET ABOUT US AS YOU RISE TO THE TOP BECAUSE YES, MA'AM, Y'ALL ALL HAVE, UH, UH, UH, BIG DREAMS AHEAD OF YOU AND, AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER CAYMAN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. UM, MS. BROOKLYN, WASHINGTON, IT'S A STRONG NAME FOR A VERY STRONG WOMAN. ABSOLUTELY. AND, UH, I KNOW JUST YOU SPOKE BEAUTIFULLY. I KNOW THAT'S A REFLECTION OF WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART AND WHO YOU ARE, AND I KNOW THAT SAME VOICE LIES IN ALL OF, UH, THE YOUNG PEOPLE STANDING BEFORE US TODAY. UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THE STAFF, UH, BUT ALSO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, UH, THAT GIVE THEIR TIME. AND AGAIN, VERY WELL DONE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCLAMATION TO THE HOUSTON SUKO MAHI CENTER TO CELEBRATE SU MAHI DAY. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE, UH, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TODAY, UH, TO WELCOME MEMBERS OF THE THES MAHAKA, UH, HOUSTON CENTER, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT C. UH, I'D ASK AT THIS TIME ALL THE MEMBERS AND THOSE WITH US TO STAND UP SO THAT YOU'RE INCLUDED. UH, TODAY, UHS MAHAKA IS A NON-DENOMINATIONAL SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATION, ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN JAPAN, ACHIEVING BALANCE AND HARMONY THROUGH PRACTICE OF CHANNELING DIVINE LIGHT. SOMETHING I THINK WE COULD ALL USE A LITTLE BIT OF RIGHT NOW. THEY GUIDE INDIVIDUALS IN CULTIVATING A SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND GRATITUDE, FOSTERING STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS AND DEEPER CONNECTION WITH THOSE AROUND THEM. AND WITH NATURE. THEY HAVE CENTERS ACROSS THE WORLD, UH, 2024 MARK, THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN NORTH AMERICA AND OVER 30 YEARS OPERATING IN HOUSTON. AND THEY ALSO DO REALLY IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING IN DISTRICT C. SO WHETHER IT'S CLEANUPS OF PARKS, UH, ACTIVITIES FOR EARTH DAY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, AND HONOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND HARMONY, CELEBRATING THEM AS A VITAL PART OF OUR DISTRICT AND OUR CITY'S RICH DIVERSITY. AND WITH ME, EXCUSE ME, UH, IS MR. WILLIAM ROBERTS, WHO'S THE ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. AND, UH, WE ALSO HAVE OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT I WILL LET MR. ROBERTS INTRODUCE AS WELL. WHEREAS OVER 30 YEARS, AGOS MAHAKA CENTERS FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT ESTABLISHED ITS FIRST CENTER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. SINCE 2010, THE CENTER HAS OPERATED IN HOUSTON HEIGHTS ON ALSTON STREET, OFFERING THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THOSE OF JAPANESE DESCENT OPPORTUNITIES TO GATHER AND SHARE SPIRITUAL LIGHT WITH ONE ANOTHER. PRIOR TO 2010, THE ORGANIZATION OPERATED FROM A BUILDING IN MONTROSE FOR 18 YEARS. SO ALSO IN DISTRICT C, WE'RE VERY PROUD. THEY'RE A GLOBAL ORGANIZATION WITH MEMBERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, UNITED IN THEIR SHARED COMMITMENT TO ASSISTING OTHERS AND FOSTERING PEACEFUL, PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITIES. THE MISSION OF SUK AKARI INCLUDES PROMOTING HARMONY AMONG ALL PEOPLE. THE ORGANIZATION WAS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT OF RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS HELD AT THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS [00:20:01] IN AUGUST OF 2000. THEY PROMOTE THE VALUES OF SERVICE, GRATITUDE AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, ENCOURAGING INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE HARMONIOUSLY WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH NATURE, THEY'RE DEDICATED TO BRINGING POSITIVE ENERGY AND UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES WE FACE AS HUMANITY. WITH THE GOAL OF PROMOTING HEALTH, HARMONY, AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL, THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND PROGRAMMING ROOTED IN BEAUTIFUL JAPANESE TRADITIONS, WHILE ALSO FOSTERING COOPERATION AND A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG ITS MEMBERS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONGRATULATES MAHAKA FOR OVER THREE DECADES OF BRINGING LIGHT INTO OUR COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TIMM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 27TH, 2025 AS SUKI MAHARI DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. UH, JOHN WHITMEYER, UH, I KNOW HE'S NOT WITH US TODAY, MAYOR EM ALSO COMING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL AND HONORED TO BE HERE, UH, TO COMMEMORATE, UH, THIS DAY THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN AS, UH, ABBY MENTIONED IN, UH, JAPAN, ACTUALLY FEBRUARY 27TH, UH, TWO, UH, 1901, THE FOUNDER WAS BORN AND HE STARTED THIS PRACTICE, UH, ON THE SAME DAY ON HIS 58TH BIRTHDAY, ACTUALLY. UH, SO, UH, FEBRUARY 27TH, UH, 1959. AND IT'S A PRACTICE OF RADIATING ENERGY AS, UH, YOU MENTIONED, UH, THIS IS MAHI OR THE LIGHT OF TRUTH. AND SUKI BASICALLY MEANS UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OR LAWS. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE ORIGIN OF ALL HUMANKIND IS ONE. THE ORIGIN OF THE EARTH IS ONE. THE ORIGIN OF ALL RELIGIONS IS ONE. AND IT'S OUR MISSION TO REALLY HELP, UH, ANYONE, UH, THAT WE COME INTO CONTACT WITH. WE HAVE MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, FROM ALL THE MAJOR RELIGIONS, EVEN THE MINOR RELIGIONS. UM, AND IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE, UH, PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER IN THE LIGHT, UH, RATHER THAN DIVIDING IN THE NAME OF SICK OR DENOMINATION. SO WE WELCOME YOU ALL TO COME BY 7 37 ALSTON STREET. UH, IT REALLY IS VERY, UH, RELAXING. ONE CAN EXPERIENCE THE LIGHT, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE LIGHT AS WELL, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, ONLY REQUIRES A THREE DAY COURSE. AND, UH, YOU CAN GIVE LIGHT, UH, TO PEOPLE, TO PLANTS, TO ANIMALS, TO THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL. AND IT REALLY HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT. AND ONCE AGAIN, UH, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR MEMBERS HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY, MANY MORE YEARS OF OFFERING LIGHT AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. Y'ALL WANNA COME UP THERE? THANK YOU. CHAIR RECOGNIZES, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO LEE C LEONARD, HONORING HIM AS THE 2025 HOUSTON AREA ENGINEER OF THE YEAR [00:25:07] COUNCIL. AND TO THOSE THAT ARE, UM, WATCHING US, UM, ONLINE, AND THOSE OF US IN THE CHAMBERS, IT'S OFTEN SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, A GOVERNMENT MAKES THE CITY GO ROUND. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER TO YOU THAT I BELIEVE ENGINEERS MAKE THE CITY GO ROUND. UM, IN OUR CITIES, OUR COUNTIES, AND OUR COMMUNITIES. ENGINEERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT, UH, IMPORTANT ROLE. UM, BUT PARTICULARLY I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU, UH, LELAND LEE C LEONARD, WHO IS THE ENGINEER OF THE YEAR, YAY, SELECTED AS ENGINEER OF THE YEAR BY HIS PEERS. AND WE KNOW THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE INTERFACE WITH THIS, UH, GROUP OF EXPERTS, UM, FOR SO MANY PROJECTS. SO I'M HONORED TO PRESENT, UH, THE, THE PROCLAMATION ON HIS BE ON BEHALF TO REPRESENT HIM TODAY. ALSO, AS WHEREAS ON FEBRUARY 21ST, WHICH WAS SATURDAY, THE HOUSTON ENGINEERS HOSTED DURING ENGINEERS WEEK, WHICH IS A NATIONAL, A NATIONAL S UH, OBSERVANCE. UH, THEY CELEBRATED LEE LEONARD AS THE ENGINEER OF THE YEAR FOR 2025. THIS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION ACKNOWLEDGES HIS REMARKABLE 37 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION. AND IT HIGHLIGHTS HIS SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND, PARTICULARLY PROMOTING, UH, IN THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND THE WELFARE OF THE POPULATION HE SERVES. HE EARNED HIS BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING FROM TEXAS A AND M AND BECAME A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IN 1992. AND THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, HE'S PROVIDED NOTABLE AND IMPACT IMPACTING ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR CITIES, COUNTIES, COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HE JOINED B-B-G-E-A HOUSTON BASED CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM IN 2000, AND WAS APPOINTED ITS CEO IN 2014. NOW I MUST PAUSE AND SAY THAT BGE IS ON THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE OF HOUSTON. UM, SO WE KNOW, UH, THAT PRODUCING GREAT WORK, IN ADDITION TO HIS PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, LEAD HAS ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY AT LARGE. HIS ACCOLADES INCLUDE BEING NAMED YOUNG MEMBER OF THE YEAR BY THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN MILITARY ENGINEERS IN 97, RECEIVING THE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS IN 2014, AND BEING RECOGNIZED AS A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF THE ZACHARY DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AT TEXAS A AND M IN 2018, AND RECEIVING THE LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERISM AWARD FROM THE WEST HOUSTON ASSOCIATION FOLLOWING HURRICANE HARVEY IN 2018. FURTHERMORE, HE WAS NAMED AND HONORED THE MOST ADMIRED CEO BY THE HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL. IN 2020, SOMEBODY IS BUSY AND POPULAR TO SAY THE LEAST. CURRENTLY, HE SERVES AS THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES ADVOCATING FOR THE INTEREST OF THE CONSULTING ENGINEERING INDUSTRY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES LEE FOR HIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS AND, AND INCREDIBLE DEDICATION TO SERVING COMMUNITIES LOCALLY AND WORLDWIDE, IT EXTENDS ITS HEART. WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SIGNIFICANT OCCASION AND WE WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE ENDEAVORS. MAYOR PRO TEM, THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 21ST, 2025 AS LEE C LEONARD PE DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WANNA JOIN? I'M GONNA HAVE YOU COME UP AFTER I JUST SAY SURE, SURE, SURE. GO AHEAD. IS THAT, YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. CONGRATULATIONS. WONDERFUL. YOU WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. E WEEK IS ACEL IS CELEBRATED THE THIRD WEEK OF FEBRUARY TO HIGHLIGHT THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF ENGINEERING, AND I WAS HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED AS HOUSTON'S ENGINEER OF THE YEAR FOR 2025 BY A PANEL OF MY PEERS. VERY HUMBLING AND GRATIFYING TO GET THAT RECOGNITION. MY ENTIRE 37 YEAR CAREER HAS BEEN IN SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES CURRENTLY SERVING AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BGE IN ENGINEERING CONSULTANT COMPANY LOCATED ON THE WEST. THAT'S RIGHT. THE BEST SIDE OF TOWN. THAT'S RIGHT. ENGINEERS. WE ARE CHARGED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF HOUSTONIANS. AND WE TAKE OUR JOB VERY SERIOUSLY AT OUR CORE. ENGINEERS ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS. AND OF COURSE THERE ARE PLENTY OF PROBLEMS FOR US TO SOLVE IN THIS GREAT CITY. AND WE ARE UP TO THE TASK ENGINEERS ENSURE THAT THE BACKBONE OF SOCIETY IS PROVIDED WITH CLEAN WATER, HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT, ADEQUATE DRAINAGE, SAFE ROAD, SAFE TRANSIT, AND SIDEWALKS. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY FOR ME. INDEED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN LEE, CONGRATULATIONS. UH, IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO [00:30:01] SEE YOU HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, UM, FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY, UH, JUST FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, I PERSONALLY HAVE A CRUSH ON ALL OF OUR ENGINEERS BECAUSE Y'ALL MAKE EVERYTHING WORK IN WAYS THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO, RIGHT. SO Y'ALL ARE THE EXPERTS. Y'ALL LITERALLY MAKE OUR CITY WORK FOR THAT. I THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS VERY WELL DESERVING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND LEE, DO YOU WANNA INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WITH YOU TODAY? YES. INTRODUCE YOU, SHY . YEAH, SO WITH ME TODAY ARE MY, UH, TEAM MEMBERS AT BGE RODNEY. HE OVERSEES OUR HOUSTON AREA OPERATION AND ALSO SERVES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO MAYBE A FAMILIAR FACE FOR, FOR ALL OF YOU. MEGAN S IS, UH, LEADING OUR TRAFFIC GROUP. SO SHE MAKES SURE THAT THE, THE TRAFFIC CHALLENGES, UH, IN THE CITY ARE, UH, ADDRESSED AND THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF CHALLENGES, BUT CERTAINLY THE BOOST PROGRAM WITH METRO DOWN WESTHEIMER TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR BUS SYSTEM IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, MEGAN HAS TAKEN CARE OF. AND THEN SONNY GOODMAN, SONNY IS OUR MARKETING DIRECTOR TO, UH, OVERSEE THE MESSAGING OF BG AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY JUST PROVIDING ENGINEERING FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT THAT WE'RE DEEPLY ENGAGED IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT, THE [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR THE INVOCATION. I'M SORRY, POLLARD. I DIDN'T CHANGE THAT, THAT WAS MY FAULT. IT'S ACTUALLY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD IS SCHEDULED FOR THE INVOCATION TODAY. SO NEXT, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. I WANNA BRING UP, UH, PASTOR DAVID HORTON. UH, PASTOR HORTON PREVIOUSLY WAS THE SENIOR PASTOR AT ST. LUKE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, THE GETHSEMANE CAMPUS, WHICH IS IN, UH, THE SHARPSTOWN AREA OF JAY CITY. AND NOW HE IS THE SENIOR PASTOR AT FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. UH, WE WORK TOGETHER ON MANY INITIATIVES. UH, HE HELPS SPEARHEAD THE GARDEN COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, THAT IS LOCATED ON BEL AIR BOULEVARD. UH, HE ALSO, UH, PARTNERED WITH, PARTNERED WITH US ON AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR, UH, CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, THE CASE FOR KIDS PROGRAM, AND MANY OTHER INITIATIVES. SO PASTOR HORTON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BRINGING FORTH THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. LET US PRAY. BLESSED ARE THESE ELECTED LEADERS, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THESE BRAVE WOMEN AND MEN WHO HOLD THE SACRED TRUST OF BEING CHOSEN BY THEIR NEIGHBORS TO SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORS. BLESSED ARE THE STAFF, THE UNKNOWN, AND THE UNCELEBRATED WHO MAKE THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THE PUBLIC. BLESSED ARE THESE WALLS. BLESSED ARE THESE HOUSEKEEPERS, THESE SANITATION WORKERS, THESE FIRST RESPONDERS, THESE SIDEWALK PAVERS, THESE PAVEMENT MAKERS WHO PROTECT, COMFORT, BUILD AND LEAD YOUR CITY, GOD OF MERCY AND JUSTICE. GUIDE THE HEARTS OF THESE, YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS OF THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON, STIR UP IN THEM AND ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE, A HEARTFELT DESIRE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRES OF DIVISION EYES, TO SEE TEAMMATES WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE SEEN THREATS. OPEN HANDS TO RECEIVE THE WISDOM OF OTHERS AND NEW YEARS TO HEAR THE WIND OF YOUR WISDOM GUIDING ALL OF US TO A PEACEABLE WORLD WHERE LOVE AS ALL HUMAN BEINGS [00:35:01] KNOW HOW TO DO. BLESS US ALL AND MAKE US INSTRUMENTS OF YOUR PEACE TODAY, IN ALL DAYS. AMEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION, NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY. LIBERTY, JUSTICE. NEXT, WE'LL HAVE OUR [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] ROLL CALL. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR MEYER. WE BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PECK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EBA. HERE. COUNCILOR FLICKINGER. WE'LL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ? HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ? HERE. COUNCILMAN DAVIS. HERE. COUNCILMAN CARTER. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN PALMER WILL BE ASKING COUNCILMAN ALCORN. WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 11TH AND 12. SECOND MOVE MARTINEZ. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES ANY [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] PROCEDURAL MOTIONS? UH, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. MEMBER PROAM. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD SARAH HIRSH TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NON NON AGENDA, UH, SPEAKERS LIST. SECOND. AND ALSO ISRAEL MORENO AT THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA, UH, LIST AS WELL. SECOND. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE SANDRA SANTOS TO FOLLOW ISRAEL MORENO ON THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA SPEAKER LIST. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS CHAVEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD DOLORES ROGERS TO THE, UH, IS IT NON, NO NON AGENDA LIST. AND THEN I WANT TO MOVE HER UP ALONG WITH KEN ROGERS TO THE TOP OF THE LIST. THREE MINUTE. I'M TRYING TO TALK THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. OKAY. THEY'RE BOTH ON THE NON AGENDA. OKAY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE, MOVE KEN UP. HE IS ON THE LIST. AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE DOLORES TO THE LIST AND MOVE HER UP. WANT ADD AS WELL? ADD DOLORES, YOU WANT TO ADD DOLORES? I WANT TO ADD DOLORES. OKAY, I WANNA ADD DOLORES. KEN IS ALREADY ON HERE. WE GOT IT. AND I WANT YOU TO MOVE THEM UP TOGETHER. MM-HMM . TO THE TOP OF THE NON AGENDA LIST. THREE MINUTES. AND THEN I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT WOULD BE FOLLOWING THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ALREADY YEAH, KEN IS ON IT. WE GOT IT. AND THEN ED PETTED. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD HIM. WAIT, THOSE ARE SEPARATE MOTION AFTER DOLORES ROGERS. WAIT, HOLD ON. SO, SO, SO THOMAS SECONDS THE MOTION TO MOVE KEN AND ADD DOLORES DOLORES TO THE TOP OF THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA. SECOND FOLLOWING, FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURAL MOTIONS THAT WERE PREVIOUS. CORRECT. ALRIGHT. AND THEN, AND THEN YOU DID ADD ED PET SECOND. MOTION. DO ANOTHER MOTION. THAT'S ANOTHER MOTION. THAT'S ANOTHER MOTION. HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU. NO. MAKE A MOTION MOVE. SHE MOVES. AND SOMEBODY PLEASE. SECOND. SHE DID. SECOND. SECOND. ED PETTY. ADD TO THE AGENDA. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED ALL OF HER MOTIONS? CARRIE? I THINK WE HAD ENOUGH DISCUSSION. , WHERE WE PUTTING, WHERE ARE WE PUTTING ED IN? WHERE'S ED? WHERE DO YOU WANT ED PETTED TO GO? ONE MINUTE. IS IT ONE MINUTE? WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PUT THAT. WELL, WE PUTTING ED PETTED. SHE LOOKING. IS ED PETTED HERE? JUST, OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL PUT ED PETTED AT THE END OF THE THREE MINUTE AGENDA LIST AND MAYBE HE'LL BE HERE BY THE TIME WE CALL HIM. ALL RIGHT, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR A PROCEDURE MOTION. THANK YOU. UH, FIRST I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD STEVEN LONGMEYER. STEVEN, HOW MANY MINUTES HAD YOU SIGNED UP FOR ONE MINUTE TO THE ONE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST? STEVEN LONGMEYER SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. I HAVE A SECOND MOTION. [00:40:01] OPPOSED? OH, BEEN ON THE LIST FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. WHAT'S YOUR NAME, MA'AM? SO HANG ON. FOR THE REC ONE, I'M SIMPLY ADDING IN A RESIDENT. I, I UNDERSTAND THE OTHER MOTIONS, BUT WE HAD A COMMENTARY FROM THE PUBLIC. SO FOR THE RECORD, I'M SIMPLY ADDING IN A RESIDENT THAT HAD SIGNED UP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SECTION THAT HE HAD SIGNED UP FOR THAT WAS MISTAKENLY LEFT OFF OF THE LIST. THAT, THAT'S MY MOTION. SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO MOVE DOWN FROM THE TWO MINUTE NON-AG AGENDA LIST EVIL AND CRUDE TO FOLLOW AHEAD OF CATHERINE MCNEIL. ON THE THREE MINUTE. ON THE THREE MINUTE. SO WE'RE MOVING A RESIDENT DOWN AHEAD OF CATHERINE MCNEIL. MM-HMM . IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL OF IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER MOTION? THANK YOU. MAYOR PROM. DID YOU MOVE PATRICIA WILLIAMS UP? NO, I DID NOT. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE HER UP. UH, BEHIND, I BELIEVE IT'S ED PETTED OR DOLORES ROGERS. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S THE LAST PERSON YOU PUT IT? PETTED AT THE END OF THE, WE PUT ED PETTED AT THE END OF THE THREE MINUTES. SO SHE'S ALREADY AHEAD OF HIM. OKAY. COULD SHE COME BEHIND? DOLORES ROGERS? IF THAT'S YOUR MOTION. THAT IS MY MOTION, MA'AM. IS THERE A SECOND? PATRICIA? WHO? HUH? NO IDEA. PATRICIA WILLIAMS. PATRICIA WILLIAMS. SHE'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS FIRST PAGE. AND YOU WANNA MOVE HER? WHERE? I WANNA MOVE HER UP BEHIND DOLORES ROGERS. BEHIND DOLORES ROGERS. YES. IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES NOW. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. WE'RE STILL SORTING OUT, I KNOW YOU'RE STILL SORTING OUT ALL OF COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ'S MOTIONS, BUT , HOPEFULLY I HAVE EVERYBODY. RIGHT? NIA COLBERT. HELLO, MS. COLBERT. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. YOU CAN GO AHEAD BEHIND THAT MICROPHONE. MY NAME IS GENEVA WARDSWORTH COLBERT. I'M ALSO KNOWN AS NIA COLBERT. AND MY REQUEST TODAY BEFORE THE, UH, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, UH, SPECIFICALLY I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE PROBLEMS AT 48 12 HAZARD STREET, ZIP CODE 7 7 0 9 8. UH, MY REQUEST IS TO ASK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, IT IS IN HER DISTRICT. AND OF COURSE, THIS IS NEVER TO IMPLY OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ANY WRONGDOING OR THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN. AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT WHEN I'M ASLEEP, THAT THIS MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL AND OTHERS ARE DEALING WITH, WITH MAJOR ISSUES OF THE CITY. HOWEVER, FOR THE CITY TO HAVE, NOT THE CITY, BUT FOR THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY TO HAVE PAID FOR AND SUBSIDIZED THROUGH THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS, A PROPERTY THAT IS UNINHABITABLE BUILT IN THE 50 YEAR, 1950 THROUGH 55, UM, INHALING PARTICULATE SUBSTANCES, UH, FROM THE WHAT APPEARS TO BE LEAD BASED PAINT THAT WAS NOT ABATED, THE ISSUES IN TERMS OF HOW THE PROPERTY WAS CONTRACTED, HOW IT WAS, UH, ALLEGED TO HAVE PASSED INSPECTION. I'M DISABLED. UH, BOTH I HAVE A, UH, COGNITIVE DISABILITY. I'VE BEEN VICTIMIZED ON THE PROPERTY. SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE MADE MAJOR NEWS TO BE PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED BY A LANDLORD DURING AN ILLEGAL LOCKOUT. AND THAT IS MENCIA M SANTO DOMINGO, HER ALLEGED HUSBAND, JUAN CARLOS GARCIA SANCHEZ AND THEIR 23-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, UH, UH, DANIELA SANCHEZ. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE CITY TO PREVENT EVICTIONS AS A BARRIER TO HOUSING. I'M ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION OF A LIAISON, SOMEONE TO HELP ME FIND QUICKLY AN APARTMENT. [00:45:02] THE VOUCHER HAS BEEN REISSUED. THANKFULLY, I'M JUST LIMITED IN BEING A VICTIM OF CRIME ON THE STREETS, NOT HAVING, UH, TRANSPORTATION BEING ASSAULTED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOARD THE METRO SYSTEM. AND I HAVE TO ADD THAT THE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FORMER CHIEF VERA BUMPERS DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF IDENTIFYING THE GANG MEMBERS AND FACTIONS THAT WERE IN FACT, ATTACKING ME AND STALKING ME. UH, THOSE ARE THE ISSUES. AND I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IT IS A PRIVATE PROPERTY. IT'S NOT CLEAR ABOUT THE DEED. A PORTION OF IT IS LIKE A FLOP HOUSE. IT'S BEEN A NUISANCE FOR YEARS. AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THE MAYOR, AS HE PICKED UP BRANCHES ON A PERSONAL PROPERTY OF SOMEONE DURING THE CENTER POINT FAILURES, IF THEY CAN COME OUT AND LOOK AT THIS, YOUR TRAVESTY HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU, MS. COLBERT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. MS. COLBERT, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU. I KNOW SOME WEEKS YOU SIGN UP AND WE, WE DON'T GET TO SEE YOU. UM, I HAVE A NOTE HERE THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAD INSPECTED THE HAZARD STREET COMPLEX AND, AND TOLD RELAYED TO US THAT IT IS NOT UP TO STANDARDS AND WOULD NOT BE A CERTIFIED PROPERTY UNDER THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. UM, HAVE YOU, I HAVE YOU LOST CONTACT WITH THEM? IS THERE ANYONE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO FOLLOW, UM, YOU, UH, AND HELP YOU ALONG THIS VERY CHALLENGING JOURNEY AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE, UH, A, A SAFE AND SECURE PLACE TO LIVE. I KNOW YOU'D ALSO BEEN WORKING, I BELIEVE, WITH RENEE. UH, DO WE NEED TO SHORE UP THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OR WHO ARE YOU WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW? YES, VERY WELL SAID. SO, UH, RENEE IS WONDERFUL. HI, RENEE . OH, THERE'S RENEE. SORRY. NORMALLY IS OVER THERE. SO I'M LIKE, OKAY. SO RENEE WAS FORMALLY, I BELIEVE, IN ANIMAL CONTROL. AND SO FOR YEARS I'D BITE AND SNAP AND, AND AND CALL RA UH, RENEE. AND HE JUST IGNORED ME. HAVING WORKED IN ANIMAL CONTROL, HE KNEW MY BARK WAS WORSE THAN MY BITE. UH, SO WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AS WELL AS WITH YOUR STAFF, MS. SMITH. IT IS INTRICATE IN THAT THE LEVEL OF CONFUSION WHEN PEOPLE SAY HOUSING SOMETIMES THERE'S FIRST THE DEFERENCE TO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. UH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY WE'VE HAD MAJOR WEATHER EVENTS. YES, MA'AM. UH, IT IS A CHALLENGE. UM, I SAID TO SOMEONE, I DON'T VIEW MYSELF AS A VICTIM, UH, I JUST, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK MY FEELINGS ARE HURT, THAT HAVING BEEN WRONGFULLY, UH, DESTABILIZED IN NUMEROUS EVICTIONS AND THEN FINALLY TO FIND A PLACE THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE MY HOME AND FIND IT IN THIS CONDITION. SO IT JUST HURTS MY FEELINGS. BUT I DO NEED TO QUICKLY GET OUT OF THERE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT A LEGAL ISSUE IN TERMS OF AN EVICTION. I JUST NEED TO GET THE VOUCHER AND MOVE. BUT I'VE BECOME SO SICK FROM THE MOLD, THE LEAD BASED PAINS. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. THANK YOU. MS. INGRAM MITCHUM WAS, WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL AND HELPFUL. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, EVEN IN GOING THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A CASE LIKE THIS. IT, IT'S A MESS. UNDERSTOOD. SO I WOULD ASK THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION HOUSING AUTHORITY ALSO. IT'S IN TRANSITION NOW AND I'M TRYING MY BEST, BUT I BE PATIENT WITH PEOPLE AS WELL. UNDERSTOOD. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF. SO I WOULD JUST ASK, UH, WHEN YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING, UH, ANNA, IF YOU COULD PLEASE WITH RENEE, UH, SPEAK WITH MS. COLBERT JUST SO WE CAN SHORE UP WHO'S GONNA BE RELAYING WHAT INFORMATION SO WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THIS AND MAKE SURE THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR YOU. AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES MA'AM. OKAY. THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU DID. THANK YOU. SPEAKER, THE TRAFFIC AT THE HEIGHTS SPEAKER, A DOLPHIN SQUARE TO BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH HIRSH. HELLO, MR. SQUARE. HELLO. HOW YOU DOING? DOING WELL. GO AHEAD. HOW'S EVERYONE? GOOD. DOING WELL. UH, LAST TIME I WAS HERE. HOW YOU DOING? UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS AND MR. POLLARD? UH, I ASKED FOR THE MIC TO BE RAISED, BUT I'M A LOWER MYSELF THIS TIME. , RAISE IT UP ANY HIGHER. I'D LIKE TO THANK GOD, FIRST OF ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MUCH. WHO GOT THE BAIL? THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW TOO. YOUR TIME IS TICKING. IS MS. DANIEL? NO. ALRIGHT. I'M BE WATCHING YOU MISS N UM, I LIKE, THANK GOD. AND, UH, ALL Y'ALL AND I CAME ON A POSITIVE NOTE TODAY. UH, I WANTED TO, [00:50:01] SO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S DOING A GREAT JOB PERIOD. AND UH, ALSO WITH THE HOMELESS SITUATION, IT'S GOTTEN BETTER. IT'S GOTTEN BETTER. UH, WISH THEY GOT WORK TO DO. WISH THEY GOT WORK TO DO. BUT, UH, IT'S GOTTEN A LOT BETTER. AND, UH, I, I WANNA WORK WITH THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. NOT JUST THE COUNCIL, BUT THE COUNTY TOO ALSO. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, I'VE, I'VE MET WITH, UH, CHIEF DIRECTOR, UH, LARRY , AND WE'VE ALREADY CONNECTED. AND, UH, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH NICK SESSIONS. UH, HE'S WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT I JUST TALKED TO HIM AND HE'S OUTTA TOWN RIGHT NOW. BUT I CAME, WE HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP. I COULDN'T GET Y'ALL ALL TOGETHER. I KNOW ALL YOUR EMAILS. WE HAVE A RED CARPET EVENT COMING UP ON THIS THURSDAY. SORRY FOR THIS, UH, CHARDON NOTICE. BUT HOUSTON HOMELESS HOTEL IS, UH, HOUSING THIS EVENT AT A THEATER. AND, UH, WE'VE TEAMED UP. HOLLYWOOD FOUND US LAST YEAR AND IT'S COME TO FRUITION NOW AND IT'S TIME. AND, UH, WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING AN EVENT WITH THEM. IT'S A RED CARPET EVENT. YOU GOTTA DRESS UP IF Y'ALL COMING. AND, UH, IT'S A HOMELESS FILM. IT'S, IT'S CALLED NO ADDRESS. IT'S STARTING, UH, SHANTE IS ONE ACTOR. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW BEVERLY DEANGELO AND ONE OF THE BALDWIN BROTHERS, BUT A LOT OF MORE ACTORS. UM, JUST WANT TO INVITE, Y'ALL HAVE MY FLYERS HERE. UH, SO YOU KNOW, JUST LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED A FLYER, WE CAN GET THOSE. IF YOU JUST GIVE 'EM TO JAMES, HE'LL GET, GET 'EM OVER TO US SO WE CAN ALL WE CAN ALL GET THOSE FROM YOU. OKAY. I'LL GIVE 'EM TO THEM. AND YOU GOTTA INVITE YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU AIN'T GOT A SIGNIFICANT OTHER, JUST INVITE SOMEBODY. INVITE SOMEBODY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE TODAY. THANK YOU'ALL. AND I'M PRAYING FOR ALL Y'ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TOO MUCH FOR US. WE WILL. AND THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL. NEXT SPEAKER, SARAH HIRSCH. SARAH HIRSCH BE FOLLOWED BY STEVEN LONGMEYER. UH, HELLO MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. THIS IS A CRITICAL CONNECTION THAT WE MUST MAINTAIN ALL THE PLANS WE'VE SEEN, INCLUDING THE GRB MASTER PLAN AND THE TX DOTS. FREEWAY PLANS HAVE ALWAYS SHOWN POLK STAYING OPEN. T EVEN REITERATED THIS AT A TOWN MEET TOWN HALL MEETING LAST MONDAY. DO OUR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS KNOW ABOUT THIS CLOSURE? THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED ON FOLK. UH, ARE THERE ANY TRAFFIC STUDIES THAT SHOW HOW EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED IF THIS HAPPENS? I LIVE TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM POLK AND EASTWOOD. POLK IS HOW I GET TO MY DOCTOR. POLK IS HOW MY HUSBAND GETS TO WORK. POLK IS HOW MY BLIND FATHER-IN-LAW ACCESSES DOWNTOWN ON HIS WALKS. POLK IS HOW I GET TO FANIA. THE WORTHHAM. THE A MC MOVIE THEATER MARKET SQUARE PARK DI CAN PARK, UH, IS HOW I VISIT MY FRIENDS DOWNTOWN. AND ON TOP OF EVERYTHING, POLK IS LITERALLY HOW I GET TO THE GRB. WE CANNOT RUSH THIS DECISION ON THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK. WE NEED THIS STREET. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MEMBER. JUST A SECOND, SARAH. UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LIST OF, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA BE SPEAKING TO POPE. SO, UM, I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO IT A BIT AND THEN I'LL, THE LAST SPEAKER, WE WILL, WE CAN KIND OF WRAP IT, WRAP IT UP AS WELL WITH, WITH, UH, SOME MORE CLOSING WORDS. BUT WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, DEFINITELY. UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, THERE, THERE IS A PROCESS. IT'S A JRC PROCESS JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE. AND SO WITHIN THAT PROCESS, THERE'S FIVE DIFFERENT, UM, UM, DEPARTMENTS THAT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, REVIEW IT. HFD IS ONE OF 'EM. H HPD IS ONE OF THEM. UH, AND, AND SO KNOW THAT MY BIGGEST PRIORITY, 'CAUSE I'VE ALREADY HAD TWO MEETINGS. ONE OF 'EM WAS AT EASTWOOD CIVIC CLUB ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THEN LAST WEEK WAS AT THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S, UH, VOICE AND ADVOCACY. UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE A MEETING SOON, UH, WITH HOUSTON. FIRST WITH A FEW, UH, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, UM, IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ROLL OUT, UH, AT THAT MEETING. MY, MY, UH, GOAL IS THAT, UH, EAST, EAST END RESIDENCE 'CAUSE IT'S MORE, IT'S NOT JUST EASTWOOD EAST END RESIDENTS, UM, SHARE THEIR FRUSTRATIONS FOR SURE. ALRIGHT. SHARE, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT, WHAT CAN BE COMPROMISED AS, AS WELL ON BOTH ENDS. MAKING SURE THAT HOUSTON FIRST IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AS WELL. AND SO, UH, I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT, UM, IT ALSO AFFECTS, UH, FIFTH WARD AND, UH, DOWN IN THIRD WARD AS WELL. YEAH, NO, DEFINITELY. AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE RECOGNIZE AT THE LAST MEETING. FIFTH WARD IS BEING IMPACTED, UH, 'CAUSE THEY HAVE, UH, AT GREAT CROSSINGS THAT SOMETIMES THEY GET STUCK BEHIND THIRD WARD AS WELL. AND SO WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE EXPANDING THAT, THAT, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ACTIVATION, UH, [00:55:01] OR GROUP RIGHT. UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM EVERYONE. AND SO I'M COMMITTED TO THAT. UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE GONNA BE HAVING A MEETING SOON WITH HOUSTON FIRST. AND MY HOPE IS THAT, UM, PRIOR TO EVERYTHING BEING SHARED WITH, UH, THE LARGER COMMUNITY, WE'RE ABLE TO AT LEAST GET SOME, SOME REQUESTS, UH, PUT ON THE TABLE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, STEVEN LONGMEYER. STEVEN LONGMEYER. WE FOLLOWED BY MARA JOYCE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I FEEL A BIT LIKE DON KETE HERE, COMING BACK TO REMIND YOU THAT I, UH, SPOKE AGAINST, UH, ITEMS ONE AND TWO ON THIS TOMORROW'S AGENDA BEFORE. AND THAT I WANT TO COMMEND JEFF WATERS AND, UH, ABBY NOBLES AS TWO OF THE MOST ETHICAL, COMPETENT, AND CONSCIENTIOUS MEMBERS OF ANY BOARD THAT HAVE SERVED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON UNDER ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION WHICH RESPECTS DIVERSITY, DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT, DIVERSITY OF IDEAS, THEY WOULD'VE BEEN REAPPOINTED WITHOUT QUESTION. THEY WERE NOT ASKED. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE TABLE OR REFER BACK TO ADMINISTRATION. THIS FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT AT GIVING OUR TOURS BOARD THE MEASLES. SO IT WILL HAVE NO CORPORATE MEMORY OF ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS INVOLVING THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD PROJECT AT ANY OF THE HARD HOURS THAT WE'VE ALL PUT IN FOR THAT PROJECT. WE DON'T NEED A BOARD OF ALL YES PEOPLE. WE NEED A BOARD THAT THINKS CRITICALLY, THAT ASKS HARD QUESTIONS. AND THE MAYOR SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. EXCUSE ME, SIR. STEVEN, MR. LONGMEYER. NO, I'M SORRY. MEMBER CAMAN. I JUST, I, AGAIN, I'M, I'M CONTINUING TO LISTEN TO ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE GETTING IN MY OFFICE, UM, ON THIS. AND I'M FACED WITH A CHALLENGE WHERE, UH, I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THE PROCESS, BUT ON ITS FACE, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST TWO OF THE PROPOSED NOMINEES I KNOW, UM, ARE EXCEPTIONAL. AND I DON'T DISAGREE IN ANY WAY. UM, JEFF AND ABBY AND EUREKA FOR THAT MATTER, RIGHT? IN THE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. UH, DO YOU, AND I'M GENUINELY ASKING, I I'M OPEN TO YOUR FEEDBACK AFTER THIS MEETING AS WELL AS IT RELATES TO THE, THE MEMBERS, THE INDIVIDUALS BEING PROPOSED. UM, AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA HAVE AN OP NO, NO PERSONAL BASHING, BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW ON ITS FACE THE INDIVIDUALS PRESENTED BEFORE US, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS. AND AGAIN, DOESN'T, I DON'T WANNA DISPARAGE ANYBODY PUBLICLY. I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR THEM, WHICH IS WHY I'M ASKING. I CANNOT COMMENT ON ANY OF THE THREE NOMINEES BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT ANY OF THE THREE NOMINEES WHO ARE THERE TO REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS. UH, UNLIKE ALL OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBERS PRIOR TO THIS MAYOR, UM, WE HAD VERY INTIMATE INPUT INTO WHO WAS GOING TO REPRESENT US ON THIS CRITICAL BOARD. SO, UM, MY CONCERN IS NOT SO MUCH WHO THEY ARE, BUT THE PROCESS WHEREBY WE GOT HERE, WHICH I'M SORRY, RIGHT, IS RIGHT AND WRONG, IS WRONG. AND THIS IS SIMPLY WRONG. YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR POWER TO SEND THAT MESSAGE, AND I ASK THAT YOU DO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, MARA JOYCE. MARA JOYCE MARA JOYCE. NEXT SPEAKER LISA HUNT. LISA HUNT TO BE FOLLOWED BY CAESAR ESPOSA. WE SPEAKING TO THE MICROPHONE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M LISA HUNT, A RESIDENT OF EASTWOOD, AND I COME TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. SINCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF I 45 IN 1952, TRANSPORTATION DECISIONS HAVE SEPARATED AND SEGREGATED THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF HOUSTON. THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FIFTH WARDS WERE EFFECTIVELY CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. NOW, IN 2025, TO OUR DETRIMENT DECISIONS ACCOMMODATING THOSE WHO TRAVEL TO AND THROUGH OUR CITY ARE BEING MADE AGAIN WITHOUT THE INCLUSION OF THOSE WHO ABIDE IN OUR CITY. HOUSTON FIRST 2025 MASTER PLAN FOR GEORGE R BROWN'S EXPANSION CONDUCTED BY GENSLER IN 2011, ASSERTED REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE, THE REPORT, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAIN MAINTAINING. POLK STREET IS A MAJOR EAST WEST CORRIDOR CONNECTING DOWNTOWN AND THE EAST END. THIS PLANNING PROCESS, IT SHOULD BE NOTED, INCLUDED, NO RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE EAST END IN 2019. TEXT STAT ALSO INCLUDED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, LISA, WE GONNA [01:00:01] HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IN 2019, TDOT'S PROJECT PLAN MAINTAINED POLK STREET, AGAIN AS AN OPEN, UH, VEHICULAR CORRIDOR. JUST 15 DAYS AGO, RESIDENTS OF THE CITY LEARNED OF THE PLAN TO ABANDON POLK AND GIVE IT TO GEORGE R. BROWN HOUSTON FIRST, ALLOWING IT TO CLOSE THE STREET TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, TO CREATE AN UNFUNDED PARK SURROUNDING AN EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER. THIS COUNCIL SHOULD DENY THIS REQUEST UNTIL A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS PRESENTED TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, WHICH SHOWS THE INTEGRATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION PLANS OF TXDOT METRO, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND UNION PACIFIC. AND THE ABANDONMENT OF A MAJOR CONNECTOR NEEDS TO BE DEFERRED UNTIL THE FULL IMPLICATION OF HOUSTON FIRST PLANS ARE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL. I URGE YOU TO REFUSE THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LISA. AND I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH THIS. UM, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. I KNOW THERE'S A, UH, SEVERAL RESIDENTS THAT SHOWED UP TO THE HOUSTON FIRST MEETING AS WELL. UH, JUST CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, UH, SHARE YOUR VOICE WITH US ALL. THANK YOU. WE WILL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. REVEREND REVEREND HUNT. IT'S, YEAH, NO, REVEREND, I WANTED TO ALSO THANK YOU. IN ADDITION TO THE HISTORY YOU LAID OUT, LET'S NOT FORGET, UH, FREEMAN'S TOWN WAS SEPARATED BY AMEN, BY THE PIERCE ELEVATED, UH, AND, AND IN FACT, GUTTED. UH, SO I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND ALL THE RESIDENTS, OF COURSE, THIS IS IN, UH, COUNCILOR MARTINEZ'S DISTRICT, BUT WE'RE ALL PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION. I DID WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY THOUGH, UH, YOU ALSO SERVED THE MONTROSE COMMUNITY WITH DEDICATION, UH, NOT ONLY THROUGH YOUR CHURCH, BUT ALSO, UH, AS A MEMBER OF PREVIOUSLY OF THE MONTROSE TURS BOARD. AND I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU LED THE EFFORTS ON STUDYING AFFORDABILITY FOR LIVING IN MONTROSE, WHICH HAS THE HIGHEST RATES OF EVICTION IN THE ENTIRE CITY. UH, AGAIN, I THANK YOU AND I COMMEND YOU. THOSE ARE VOLUNTEER HOURS. WHEN YOU HEAR STEVEN LONGMEYER TALK ABOUT THE DEDICATION OF THAT BOARD AT THAT TIME IN THE ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU WERE INTEGRAL IN THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, CESAR ESPINOZA. CESAR ESPINOZA TO BE FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL. GABRIEL GALLEGOS. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ESA ESPINOZA AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FI. UM, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF MY CAREER, WE TRY TO WORK WITH, UH, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE. WE BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITIES ARE SAFER, UH, WHEN THERE'S GOOD POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS, UM, AND THROUGH THE DETRIMENT OF SOME ACTIVISTS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE STUCK BY THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'VE, UH, HAVEN'T HAD THAT, THE BEST RECEPTION BY THE NEW CHIEF OF POLICE OR, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER. UM, ON FEBRUARY, ON MARCH 20TH, FEB, EXCUSE ME, ON FEBRUARY 5TH, WE HAD 20,000 PEOPLE MARCHING IN MONTROSE. AND THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE ARREST. THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE RIOT. NOTHING TO SAY THAT WE WERE NOT BEING PEACEFUL ON FEBRUARY 12TH, UH, WE DESCENDED ON, ON THE EAST END, UH, THE HISTORICAL EAST END. AND TO OUR SURPRISE, THERE WAS OVER A HUNDRED POLICE VEHICLES THERE, INCLUDING HIGH WATER VEHICLES, INCLUDING PADDY WAGONS. AND THE REASON, THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE ASKING, I WISH THE MAYOR WAS HERE, IS WHY, WHY IS IT THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU, YOU WANT TO OVER POLICE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS? THE OTHER BIG ISSUE THAT WE HAD IS THAT THE CITY ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAME VERY ZE ZEALOUS IN ASKING FOR PERMITS FOR ALL SORTS OF THINGS FOR US. WE'RE SEASONED. WE CAN, WE CAN GO. AND WITH THE HELP OF SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME PERMITS. BUT FOR WHAT ABOUT FOR THOSE NEW ACTIVISTS THAT ARE, THAT IF YOU START PUTTING PAPERWORK AFTER PAPERWORK LINK TO GO TO THIS LINK TO SIGN UP FOR THAT LINK, TO DO THIS LINK, WHAT ABOUT THEM? ARE THEY GONNA BE TURNED AWAY? ARE THEY GONNA BE TURNED OFF AND SAY, WHERE'S MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? AND AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WORRY ABOUT. WE WORRY ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN, IN ONCE AGAIN IN THE EAST END. UM, WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE RALLY BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND PARKING BECAUSE HPD CLOSED OFF SEVERAL, MANY STREETS AROUND GUADALUPE PLAZA. SO THERE'S SEVERAL QUESTIONS HERE. NUMBER ONE IS WHY NUMBER TWO IS HOW MUCH DID THAT COST? AND NUMBER THREE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR SENTENCE. THANK YOU. AND NUMBER THREE, WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SO CLOSE BY, AND WITH THEM HAVING SUFFERING, UH, [01:05:01] AN INCREASE OF CRIME INCLUDING, UH, A SEXUAL ASSAULT ON FEBRUARY 7TH, COULDN'T THOSE POLICE BE USED FOR THAT INSTEAD, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO POLICE PEACEFUL PROTESTORS? SO, I MEAN, I WISH HE WAS HERE. WE'RE GONNA COME BACK. UM, AND JUST, I'M SORRY. BUT LASTLY, PLEASE TALK TO YOUR FOLKS DOWNSTAIRS ABOUT WHAT IDS TO, TO ACCEPT, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA, WE BRING UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE HERE AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR CITY HALL. SO PLEASE, LET'S TRY TO RETRAIN THEM IF WE CAN. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO. TIM CESA, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE CONTINUE TO DO. UM, MY, IT'S AN ASSUMPTION, RIGHT? SO IT MIGHT NOT BE TRUE. BUT, UM, WHAT HAPPENED ON, YOU KNOW, IN MONTROSE TO HAVE THAT MANY FOLKS COME OUT? I THINK THERE WAS AN ANTICIPATION OF MAYBE THAT MANY FOLKS SHOWING UP, UM, IN THE EAST END. AND SO MAYBE IT WAS, IT WAS OVER O UH, TOO MUCH POLICING. UH, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S SAFE. AND TO YOUR POINT, UM, AT, AT THE, UM, FEBRUARY 5TH MARCH, IT WAS PEACEFUL. HPD WAS HELP HELPFUL AS WELL. WE THANK THEM. YOU THANK THEM. AND I THINK THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE. I, I PERSONALLY WILL REACH OUT TO CHIEF DIAZ TO SEE WHAT, WHAT THE, UH, THE REASONING WAS. I ANTICIPATE THAT'S WHAT IT, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. UM, BUT IN THE FUTURE, AND YOU'VE REACHED OUT TO ME, UH, WHETHER IT WAS THE FEBRUARY 5TH ONE OR THE ONE THAT YOU JUST HAD AT TBH, CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO ME AND MY, AND MY TEAM AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS, IS ABLE TO SPEAK RIGHT. HAVE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT AND ANY, ANYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING. SO, UH, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER KING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. AND I MEAN, AND AND CHIEF, I MEAN, HPD HAS MY PHONE NUMBER. THEY COULD HAVE EASILY CALLED AND WE COULD'VE SAID, I DON'T THINK THIS IS GONNA BE AS BIG 'CAUSE OF WEATHER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I, I THINK WE SHOULD USE RESOURCES BETTER FOR SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN. THANK YOU. AND I, CESAR I HEAR YOU. ONE, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND THE VOICE THAT YOU PROVIDE. I JUST TO SPEAK TO MONTROSE AND THE MUSEUM DISTRICT, 'CAUSE THAT'S IN DISTRICT CI ACTUALLY ENDED UP, UH, DOWN THERE COINCIDENTALLY FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY BY THE PARK AND BROUGHT MY THREE-YEAR-OLD SON TO WITNESS WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE VOICES AND THE POSITION. AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. AND IT WAS PEACEFUL. I THINK AS A CITY WE WEREN'T EXPECTING, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WAS EXPECTING THAT MANY PEOPLE TO SHOW UP. AND AGAIN, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF TRAFFIC JAMS, A LOT OF LOG JAMS, RESIDENTS THAT COULDN'T GET IN AND OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THIS AGAIN, MAY HAVE BEEN AN OVERCORRECTION. UM, I'VE SPOKEN TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS. I KNOW WE HAVE RESIDENTS HERE COMING TO SPEAK ON THE MONTROSE BRIDGES, I BELIEVE. RIGHT? FOLKS WERE OUT THERE. IT WAS PITCH BLACK ON THOSE BRIDGES, UH, AT NIGHT PROTESTING AND USING THEIR VOICE. BUT THERE, THERE'S SAFETY THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. AND I KNOW YOU TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY, AND WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP. REALLY QUICKLY, UH, IF YOU COULD GET WITH US JUST ON WHAT IDS ARE NOT BEING ACCEPTED, THAT SHOULD BE AT CITY HALL, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO KNOW SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION. WELL, SO JUST TODAY WE PRESENTED A, UH, ENHANCED ID FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT, THAT WE COULDN'T USE THAT TO GET IN HERE. OKAY. AND, UH, WE HAVE USED THAT IN THE PAST. AND, AND THEN WE WERE, UH, TOLD THAT THEY WERE, I MEAN, BASICALLY THEY, THE OFFICER DOWNSTAIRS SAID HE WAS GONNA MAKE A ONE-TIME EXCEPTION. AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO US. 'CAUSE WE BRING PEOPLE WITH THAT FORM OF ID THAT'S RECOGNIZED BY HARRIS COUNTY ALL THE TIME. AND IT SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE IT'S A, A PRIVILEGE TO COME TO CITY HALL. IT'S, IT'S ALMOST A DUTY TO US TO COME TO CITY HALL. UNDERSTOOD. UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIMM CESAR, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU AND TO LIFT YOU UP. I KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UM, CAN BE DIFFICULT AND, UH, FRUSTRATING AT TIMES. UH, BUT YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED, UH, REGARDLESS OF PEOPLE AGREE WITH EVERY SINGLE THING. YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED. AND, UH, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE FELT. UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER GABRIEL GALLEGOS. GABRIEL GALLEGOS BE FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW DONOVAN. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, MY NAME'S GABE. YOU SPEAK BEHIND THAT MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HEAR YOU. GOOD TO GO. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME'S GABE. I'M FROM HOUSTON. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S PRETTY RIDICULOUS FOR THESE SESSIONS TO BE HELD, UM, ONLY IN PERSON ON TUESDAYS AT 2:00 PM UM, WE ALL HAVE JOBS HERE, I'M SURE. UH, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT'S INTENTIONALLY DONE TO LIMIT THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE, WHICH IS TRULY SHAMELESS AT CIVIL SERVANTS. I WORK DOWNTOWN, AND EVERY DAY I DRIVE INTO WORK. I USE POLK STREET PERMANENTLY. CLOSING POLK STREET ON THE FOUR BLOCKS SOUTH OF THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL ONLY CAUSE MORE TRAFFIC AND FURTHER DISCONNECT DOWNTOWN FROM THE IDO NEIGHBORHOOD. WHY IS THIS PLAN BEING SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS? [01:10:01] WITHOUT OUR INPUT? WE HAVE NOT BEEN SHOWN. WHY HAVE WE NOT BEEN SHOWN THE RENDERINGS? IT'S ONE OF, IF NOT THE ONLY UNOBSTRUCTED STREETS GOING FROM IDO INTO DOWNTOWN, AND THE CITY IS GIVING UP TO A PRIVATE CORPORATION WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF ITS CITIZENS. THIS IS NOT HOW AN OPENING, HOW AN OPENING. THIS IS NOT HOW AN OPEN DEMOCRACY SHOULD FUNCTION. I'M NOT AGAINST EXPANDING THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT WHY DON'T YOU WORK WITH YOUR CITIZENS TO MEET BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CORPORATIONS WANTS AND NEEDS? THERE ARE SMARTER, MORE EFFICIENT WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL. ADDITIONALLY, IT'S CLEAR THE DISCLOSURE AND, AND FUTURE PLANS TO CHANGE BULK STREET ARE RELATED. TOTEX, UH, TEXAS DOTS PLAN FOR EXPANDING 45. EXPANDING 45 IS IN AND OF ITSELF, AND UNINTELLIGENT AND CLUMSY PLAN CONTINUING TO EXPAND. HIGHWAYS LIKE 45 DOES NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC ON 45 AND OTHER HIGHWAYS IN HOUSTON, UH, CONTINUE TO BE BAD AFTER DEC DECADES OF EXPANSIONS ALREADY DONE. TO ME, IT'S SIMILAR TO THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY TO CONTINUE DOING SOMETHING AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS. IT'S, WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT TEXTILES PLANS ARE ON THE STATE LEVEL AND NOT THE CITY LEVEL, OUR CITY'S REPRESENTATIVES, UH, SHOULD BE FIGHTING TO RESIST THIS HIGHWAY EXPANSION AND THE POLE CITY, THE POLK STREET CLOSURE IN OUR CITY. YOU CAN IMPROVE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC BY OFFERING CITIZENS IMPROVED ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION LIKE TRAINS. WHY IS THERE SUCH A CONSTANT RESISTANCE TO MODERNIZING OUR CITY BY RESISTING THINGS LIKE EXPANDING METRO LINES? POLITICIANS AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES TEND TO BE VERY CONCERNED WITH LEGACIES THAT THEY LEAVE BEHIND. BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU'RE VERY CONCERNED WITH THAT AT THE MOMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. GABRIEL, ARE YOU DONE? YEAH. UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, JUST SO THAT WAY WE CAN SEE THIS, THIS CHALLENGE. IT'S, UH, TWO DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS. I HEAR, I HEAR YOU, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT TXDOT. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS DECISION MADE ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO. UH, WHAT WE'RE TALKING TODAY ABOUT, UH, OR WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING, WHICH I APPRECIATE, IS THE JRC PROCESS, THE JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE PROCESS TO ABANDON POPE, UH, NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER. UH, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH PUBLIC WORKS EXTEND THE COMMENT PERIOD TO APRIL 3RD. SO PLEASE MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE CALLING THE NUMBER OR EMAILING PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT, UH, YOUR CONCERNS AS WELL. YEAH, YEAH. NO, I, I SIGNED UP FOR, UM, YOUR NEWSLETTER FOR UPDATES ON THAT MEETING. BUT, YOU KNOW, REPORTING AS OF YESTERDAY ON LOCAL NEWS WAS SAYING THAT, UH, THEY WERE SAYING THAT THE PUBLIC SESSIONS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSED UNTIL, UH, UH, BEFORE THE PUBLIC EVEN SAW THE RENDERING. SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT APRIL 3RD. APRIL 3RD, ALRIGHT, THAT'S PROGRESS. BUT I HOPE Y'ALL DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE THERE ARE SMARTER OR EFFICIENT WAYS TO BOTH EXPAND WHILE MAINTAINING FLOWS OF TRAFFIC AND CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU KNOW, OVERHEAD STREET BRIDGES DO EXIST, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU GABRIEL. NEXT SPEAKER, MATTHEW DONOVAN. MATTHEW DONOVAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ISRAEL MORENO. HELLO AND GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MATTHEW DONOVAN AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES AS A RESIDENT OF THE EAST END. I WANNA START BY QUICKLY OUTLINING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED, INCLUDING CITY OF HOUSTON, WATER ISSUES, ILLEGAL DUMPING, ROAD CONDITIONS, AND ACCESS. I LIVE OFF OF LELAND STREET. I LIVED THERE FOR FIVE YEARS NOW, AND I'VE WATCHED COUNTLESS WATER LEAKS UP AND DOWN OUR STREET, THE LATEST OF WHICH WAS LEAKING FOR SO LONG THAT WE HAD MOSS AND MILDEW COVERING OUR SIDEWALK. THEY FINALLY TORE UP THE SIDEWALK LANDING AND THE SURROUNDING GROUND TO FIX THE LEAK AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND THEN THAT DAMAGED AREA SAT LIKE THAT FOR THREE MORE MONTHS, A MUDDY MESS THAT SAT WITH NO PROGRESS FROM THE CITY. LAST WEEK. I WAS EXCITED. THERE WAS FINALLY MOVEMENT. THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE DOING WORK, AND I WAS THRILLED THAT WE WERE MAKING PROGRESS TO FIX IT. WELL, THAT WAS UNTIL I REALIZED THAT THEY REPLACED WHAT USED TO BE A LANDING WITH STEPS WITH A SIDEWALK THAT SLOPED STRAIGHT IN TOWARDS THE STREET AT ABOUT A 10 DEGREE SLOPE. I DON'T EVEN THINK THAT MEETS LOCAL BUILDING CODE. SO NOW THE CITY'S HAVING TO COME BACK, RIP UP ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DID, AND DO IT OVER AGAIN TO RESTORE IT TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE. WHAT A WASTE OF MINE. AND YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. SPEAKING OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, IMAGINE MY SURPRISE. LAST NOVEMBER WHEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WATER DEPARTMENT CHARGED ME $7,302 AND 95 CENTS. WHEN I CALLED THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A LEAK OR MY USAGE, BUT AN ACCOUNTING CORRECTION ENTRY THAT MISTAKENLY GOT BILLED TO MY AUTO PAY. THEIR SUGGESTION WAS THAT I SHOULD SIMPLY TURN OFF AUTO PAY TO ENSURE THAT THE ISSUE DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THAT BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER ISSUE, ILLEGAL DUMPING. I LOVE EASTWOOD AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN EASTWOOD. SO I BOUGHT A LOT TO BUILD A HOME ON, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN, [01:15:01] SOMEONE DUMPED OVER 15 DUMP TRUCKS FULL OF DIRT AND DEBRIS ALL OVER THE LOT. I'M GRATEFUL TO MY NEIGHBORS THAT TRIED TO TAKE PICTURES, TRIED TO INTERVENE, AND NOTIFIED ME OF WHAT HAPPENED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. OKAY. UH, FILED A REPORT AND NEVER HEARD BACK. UM, I HAVE A LOT MORE TO COVER SO I DON'T HAVE TIME TO COVER THE REST, BUT MY ISSUES GO ACROSS ILLEGAL DUMPING. THEY GO ACROSS, UH, SERVICE THROUGH THE WATER UTILITY. THEY ALSO GO THROUGH A, THE POLK STREET CLOSURE, WHICH A LOT OF MY, MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS HAVE TALKED ABOUT TODAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME. HAS YOUR WATER ISSUE BEEN RESOLVED? UH, THIS WATER YET? WATER BILL ISSUE, YES. BEEN RESOLVED. OKAY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN. THANK YOU. UM, AND I'M REALLY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HEAR THIS A LOT, YOU KNOW, IN, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GETTING THESE CRAZY BILLS. AND IF YOU DO HAVE IT ON AUTO DRAFT, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T PAY FOR A LOT OF THINGS, RIGHT? I MEAN, UM, AND SO I HAD, UM, SOMEBODY FROM MY DISTRICT THIS WEEK ALERT US THAT THEY RECEIVED A BILL FOR $42,000 WAS A WATER BILL. AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LIMIT IS, BUT THERE SHOULD BE, WHETHER IT'S AN ACCOUNTING ERROR OR EVEN IF YOU DO HAVE A LEAK, YOU KNOW, ONCE A BILL REACHES A CERTAIN LEVEL, IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN, AT THE CITY LEVEL TO, TO EVEN SEE, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE SEND THIS BILL OUT? I MEAN, $42,000 FOR A WATER BILL IS, IS CRAZY. SO, UM, I, I HEAR YOUR FRUSTRATION. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. I APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. UH, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SIR, YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR, YOUR REMARKS. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD SOME, SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS YOU WANTED TO SAY. SHE CAN HAVE MY TIME. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL IS THE ILLEGAL DUMPING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT'S REALLY AFFECTED AND IMPACTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S THE MOST FRUSTRATING ABOUT THE ILLEGAL DUMPING IS NO ONE IS HELPING. SO I FILED A REPORT WITH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT SIX, GOT NO, NO UPDATES, NO HELP, NO SUPPORT. I FILED A REPORT WITH HPD, CALLED BACK FOR AN UPDATE, NO UPDATES IN TWO MONTHS, AND HPD JUST SUGGESTED THAT I FILE A REPORT TO 3 1 1 TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP ME WITH THAT ISSUE. WITH THE ILLEGAL DUMPING, THE CLAIM WAS IMMEDIATELY CLOSED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. SO I WENT OUT TO GET A QUOTE PRIVATELY TO SEE WHAT WOULD THIS COST ME TO FIX THIS ISSUE. $7,000 IS WHAT IT WOULD COST ME AS A RESIDENT TO HAVE THE DIRT HAULED AWAY FROM MY LOT. NOT ONLY WAS MY LOT IMPACTED, BUT THREE LOTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WERE IMPACTED AT AN ESTIMATED COST TO FIX OVER $20,000. SO THE MAYOR, WHEN HE STARTED TO SERVE, HE PUBLISHED A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF ONE CLEAN HOUSTON, BUT I'M NOT SEEING THE FOLLOW THROUGH. IN PREPARING FOR THIS COMMENT TODAY, I FOUND THAT HOUSTON HAD ENTERED INTO A RESOLUTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MONITORED UNTIL MID 2026 DUE TO A HISTORY OF FAILURE TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT YOU'RE FAILING TO UPHOLD THAT RESOLUTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. NOW, IF WE TALK ABOUT THE TOPICS OF ROADS AND ACCESS, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, THE CONDITIONS ON THE STREET THAT I LIVE ON HAVE CONTINUED TO WORSEN. THE ENTIRE STREET STARTED TO CRACK AND BUCKLE IN SECTIONS LEADING TO DIPS AND BUMPS OF UP TO 10 INCHES. THE GREAT THING ABOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS EVERYONE LIKES TO SIT ON THE PORCH AND BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY, NOW, WHEN I SIT ON THE PORCH, I WATCH PEOPLE POP THEIR TIRES OR SCRATCH THEIR BUMPERS ON ALL OF THE DIVOTS OF THE ROAD. THAT'S BUCKLING. AND THE ROADS AND ACCESS THAT WE DO HAVE ARE UNDER THREAT. MCKINNEY STREET IS CLOSING TO SUPPORT THE WEST BELT PROJECT. BLOCKING OUR ACCESS TO ITO IN DOWNTOWN LELAND STREET IS BLOCKED FOR HOURS ON END BY TRAINS. AND THE ONLY, YES, YOU HEARD THAT THE ONLY CONTINUOUS ACCESS THAT CONNECTS EASTWOOD TO DOWNTOWN IS POLK POLK, THE STREET THAT THE MAYOR, AND TO DATE HOUSTON FIRST IS SUPPORTING THE ABANDONMENT ENCLOSURE OF A STREET THAT I TAKE TO WORK, TO DINNER, TO THE GYM. A STREET THAT THREE METRO METRO BUS ROUTES LEVERAGE FOR UP TO 5,000 RIDERS A DAY. I HOPE THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT LIFE IS LIKE IN THE EAST END. IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE BEEN ABANDONED BY THE CITY AND BY THE COUNCIL. SO MY ASK IS THAT YOU STAND UP FOR AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. 'CAUSE YOUR ACTIONS TO DATE HAVE FAILED ME AND FAILED THE EAST END. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE DONOVAN. UH, MATT, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, SO THERE I, I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND, AND I'M A BORN AND RAISED IN, IN THE EAST END, SO I KNOW THE THE NEIGHBORHOOD VERY WELL AS YOU CAN. AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT LEAD. THERE IS A MEAL OVERLAY THAT YOU'RE SEEING SOME WORK DONE JUST, UH, WEST OF WHAT, WHERE YOU'RE SPEAKING TO. UM, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU AT [01:20:01] THAT, AT THAT, UH, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE PROJECTS THAN MONEY AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND THERE ARE MORE CHALLENGES, UH, THAN, THAN WHAT SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORTH HISTORICALLY OVER THE LAST DECADES. WHETHER IT IS RIGHT SIZING, SOLID WASTE, UH, WHETHER IT IS, UM, ADDRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN DEFERRED FOR DECADES. UM, I WANT YOU TO, AND AGAIN, I, I GET IT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE TO, TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S ON, IT'S ON. WE'RE ON TASK TO TRY AND WORK ON THESE THINGS AS, AS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, AND SO LEAD IN CLOSER TO YOUR HOME IS SOMETHING THAT I'M WANT, I'M LOOKING AT SUBMITTING AS A MAIL OVERLAY, UH, PROJECT IN THE, IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS WELL. UM, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POLK, UM, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, I, I I RIDE THROUGH POLK OR LEAD IN AS WELL, COMING INTO, UH, WORK AS, UM, AFTER DROPPING OFF MY KIDS. SO, UH, I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL AS IF YOU'VE BEEN ABANDONED, RIGHT? UM, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MY CELL PHONE NUMBER AS WELL. UH, SEVERAL OF YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE IT. UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THE MORE, MORE COMMUNICATION TO YOU AS TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WOULD BE HELPFUL. UH, BUT NN NEVERTHELESS, CONTINUE TO COME TO COUNCIL AND ADVOCATE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT SO HAPPENS. I WAS ON LELAND, UH, GOING TO LUNCH TODAY, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ME TO BE A VERY EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE. FIRST OF ALL, IT'S TWO LANES, RIGHT? ONE IN EACH DIRECTION. AND TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, THERE, THERE IS AN OVERLAY. I GUESS THEY'RE PUTTING THERE. DO WE, DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED? IT'S A THREE MONTH PROJECT, USUALLY THREE MONTH PROJECT. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE GOT STOPPED BY A TRAIN AS WELL. SO, UM, YEAH, I, I SYMPATHIZE WITH YOU AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'LL CONTINUE TO VISIT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AND HOUSTON FIRST TO SEE AND, AND THE MAYOR ABOUT, UH, SUITABLE ALTERNATIVES, YOU KNOW, UH, ASSUMING THE CLOSURE OF PO GOES THROUGH. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU. UH, LET ME JUST, ARE YOU BACK IN THE QUEUE? YEAH, I'M BACK IN THE QUEUE. UH, MATTHEW, MR. DONOVAN. UM, AND, AND JUST TO, AND AS WE'VE BEEN SHARING OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, THE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO AFTER THE TEXTILE PROJECT, WAS CREATE MORE ACCESS TO EAST WEST CONNECTION INTO DOWNTOWN. AND SO I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I COMMUNICATE THAT WITH MY COLLEAGUE AS WELL. BUT THAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL. AND IT HAS BEEN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ALREADY. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE FOR YOU AS WELL. NEXT SPEAKER. ISRAEL MORENO. ISRAEL MORENO TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANDRA SANTOS. HOW YOU DOING? THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE TODAY, MARTINEZ. YOU'RE MY COUNSEL GUY, I GUESS FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I LIVE IN NINE OH ONE WOODING. SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HEAR YOU. I LIVE BEHIND, I LIVE ON 9 0 1 WOODING, RIGHT BEHIND FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON CANAL STREET. I BOUGHT MY HOUSE FOUR YEARS AGO. UM, WE LEFT THE HEIGHTS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO JOIN SOMETHING, A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT FELT LIKE A COMMUNITY, NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND OF, NOT TO BE FUNNY, SMUG OR, YOU KNOW, TOO HIGH END. I LOOK FUNNY, LOOK AT ME. PEOPLE WERE AFRAID OF ME AND DON'T TRUST ME, AND I GET IT. SO ANYWAYS, MY NEIGHBORHOOD'S BEEN VERY BEAUTIFUL. WE HAVE A DRUG HOUSE THAT JUST OPENED UP TWO, UH, TWO MONTHS AGO. AND YOU HEAR THE PHONE KEEP GOING OFF AND GOING OFF. WE'VE CONTACTED, UH, SYLVIA, UH, UH, THE TREVINO, THE CONSTABLES, UH, LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID, NOBODY RESPONDS. UH, HPD. THEY SAY, FILL OUT YOUR REQUEST, OR THE RED PERMITS. I'VE DONE THAT FOR TWO MONTHS. I HAVE OVER 3000 DRUG DEALS ON THIS PHONE NEXT TO THE SCHOOL. AND ALL THIS HAPPENS NEXT TO MY DAUGHTER'S WINDOW. I KNOW THAT IF ANY OF THIS WAS HAPPENING IN ANY OF YOU GUYS' HOME, YOU GUYS HAVE THE POWER TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND HAVE AUTHORITIES COME AND TAKE CARE OF THAT AND DEAL WITH THAT. I JUST PAID $9,500 ON MY TAXES. Y'ALL WANT TO CHARGE MORE FOR WATER? Y'ALL WANT TO ASK FOR RECYCLING TRASH MONEY? I DON'T GET IT. I KNOW THAT THE CITIES HAS PROBLEMS. I GET IT. I THINK MAYOR, THE, THE MAYOR CAME INTO A REAL MESSED UP SITUATION. BUT THE MAJORITY OF YOU GUYS ON THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, YOU KNOW? SO I LIKE TO SIT AT HOME, DRINK MY BEER, DO MY ARTWORK. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I AM AN ARTIST AND MAKE MY MONEY. BUT I CANNOT HAVE THIS ACTIVITY. IT DOESN'T STOP. YOU HEAR IT, IT DOESN'T STOP. SO I'M HERE ASKING FOR HELP. AND I REACHED OUT TO SYLVIA GARCIA, THE, THE REPRESENTATIVE, OR THE COUNCILWOMAN CONGRESSWOMAN. SHE TOLD ME IT WAS FEDERAL AND IT WAS NOT HER PROBLEM. SHE SAID THAT, UM, I CONTACTED THE HOMEOWNER, ROSA MARTINEZ. SHE SAYS, IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, CALL THE LAW. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. SO I'M HERE REACHING OUT TO MY GOVERNMENT. AND I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, ISRAEL. UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE CAN, I'LL STEP OUT SO WE CAN TALK TO [01:25:01] A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT. AND JUST SOME INTERESTING BACKGROUND. MY DAD ACTUALLY LIVED OFF OF WOODING, PROBABLY DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE YOU'RE, YOU'RE LIVING NOW. UP RIGHT BEHIND THE SCHOOL. YEAH. FRANKLIN. FRANKLIN RIGHT BEHIND IT. IF YOU WANNA MEET ME OUTSIDE, I CAN. FOR WATER. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. SANDRA SANTOS. SANDRA SANTOS. SANDRA SANTOS. NEXT SPEAKER. KEN ROGERS. KEN ROGERS. KEN ROGERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY DOLORES ROGERS. HELLO, MR. ROGERS. HOW YOU GUYS DOING? COUNCIL MEMBER, HOW ARE YOU? UH, MY NAME IS KEN ROGERS. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER THIRD WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD NUMBER 67. AND I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT HOUSING. I'M NO GREAT ORATOR AND I'M NOT A COMPLICATED MAN. I'M SURE ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE REBUILDING OF THE CUNY HOMES. WE, UH, SAT ON THE COMMITTEE TALKING TO THE, UH, THOSE PEOPLE AND SAID, WE DON'T WANT THESE PEOPLE MOVING OUT OF THIRD WARD. WE WANT TO KEEP 'EM IN THIRD WARD. MY FRIEND REVEREND WHITE AT TRINITY EAST IS TRYING TO BUILD HOUSING THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE. IT'S ALSO GONNA ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE, UH, OF MY ILK, MY AGE GROUP, UH, WHO NEED A PLACE TO LIVE THAT'S AFFORDABLE. AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE NEED YOU TO SUPPORT THIS AT TRINITY EAST TO GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED. IT'S GOING TO HELP. THIRD WARD IS GOING TO HELP HOUSTON HOUSING. IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR AUNTS AND UNCLES TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND TO STAY IN THAT PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME IN DISTRICT D, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ARE YOU IN A QUEUE? COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, GO AHEAD. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR PORTILLA. AND THANK YOU, KEN, ALWAYS FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. CERTAINLY I SUPPORT THAT PROJECT. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET MOVING FORWARD FOR A WHILE, BUT THIS TIME THEY ARE SHOVEL READY AND WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD. AND SO CERTAINLY I SUPPORT THAT PROJECT. AND, UM, I, I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO IT BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANNA DISPLACE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING FROM THE CUNY HOMES. AND I THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO COME THIS MORNING. I MEAN, THIS MORNING, I, I'M SAYING MORNING THIS AFTERNOON, BUT HE'S THE FIRST PERSON I HEAR FROM EVERY MORNING WITH HIS SCRIPTURES. AND SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, KEN, FOR LIFTING ME UP IN PRAYER AS WELL. NEXT SPEAKER, DOLORES ROGERS, BE FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY. UM, I AM ON THE BOARD OF THE EMANCIPATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AND IT IS HOME OF THE EMANCIPATION AVENUE STREET PROGRAM. AND IT'S THE FIRST URBAN MAIN STREET IN TEXAS UNDER THE TEXAS HISTORIC COMMISSION. IT'S THE HOME, OF COURSE, EL DORADO BALLROOM EMANCIPATION PARK. OUR MISSION IS TO REVITALIZE, PRESERVE, AND PROTECT THIS HISTORIC COMMUNITY. TRINITY EAST HOUSING PROJECT IS IMPORTANT TO THAT EFFORT, ESPECIALLY, UH, TO ADDRESS, UH, THE LACK OF HOUSING FOR THE MARGINALIZED CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS IN THAT AREA. UH, THAT AREA IS TRADITIONALLY KNOWN AS THE BOTTOM, AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE VACANT LOTS IN THIRD WARD. AND THOSE VACANT LOTS REPRESENT HOUSING THAT HAS DISAPPEARED. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT, UH, IF, UH, AND WE NEED CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT IT. UM, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP HOUSE THE HOUSING PROBLEM IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND SO, UM, I CERTAINLY URGE, UH, YOUR SUPPORT OF TRINITY EAST'S PROJECT. IT IS ONE PROJECT, BUT WE NEED MORE PROJECTS. SO THANK YOU [01:30:01] VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER SHAVA, THANK YOU MAYOR POAM, AND THANK YOU DOLORES. AND YET SHE'S AWARE THAT HE TAKES ME AND A MILLION OTHER PEOPLE EVERY MORNING. UH, AND SHE'S ALSO MY JACK GATES CLASSMATE. AND SO SHE'S THE ORATOR IN THE FAMILY. AND CERTAINLY I ALWAYS APPRECIATE HER, HER WORDS OF WISDOM. AND CERTAINLY THAT PROJECT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER, PATRICIA WILLIAMS. PATRICIA WILLIAMS. BE FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE MAGNE. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR. APPROACH AND DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I AM HIGHLY EXPERIENCED IN SERVICE, SERVICE ORIENTED WORK, WORKING FOR CPS FOR 21 YEARS IN HISD FOR 10, AND DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SOCIAL SERVICE FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE IN MY AREA. MY PROBLEM IS THE NON MONITORING OF CONTRACTORS. THEY'RE COMING AND DESTROYING OUR STREETS. THEY ARE TEARING UP INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE LEAKS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENT FOR MONTHS, AND IT TAKES FOREVER TO GET A TICKET REALIZED FROM 3 1 1 REPORTING. I AM VERY UPSET. I'LL BE 67 IN AUGUST. I HAVE WORKED PAID TAXES YET, AND STILL WE GET THE MOST LIMITED AMOUNT OF SERVICE. I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCILWOMAN BECAUSE WHEN THINGS GET REALLY BAD, MOST OF THE ILLEGAL DUMPING IN OUR AREA IS FROM CONTRACTORS. MM-HMM . NOT CITIZENS. WE HAVE NO WAY OF MONITORING THEM UNLESS OUR DOORBELL RING CAMERAS CATCH THEM. THE MONITORING OF CONTRACTORS IS A MAJOR BIG DEAL. THEY'RE TEARING UP SIDEWALKS, EVERYTHING COSTING THE CITY A GRIP. AND IT DOESN'T HELP THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS HATES THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FACETIOUSLY. AND WITH A PURPLE PASSION. I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK TO GET THINGS DONE, BUT IT IS NO EXCUSE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THESE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE PUTTING UP ALL THIS PUBLIC HOUSING AND DESTROYING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OR GETTING AWAY WITH IT, MAKING MASS MONEY NOT CONTRIBUTING. BUT I JUST THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A SOLUTION. I HAD A, UH, I HIT A HOLE, RIP MY TIRE RIGHT OFF THE RIM. RIGHT OFF THE RIM BECAUSE WHEN THEY REPAIR THESE STREETS, THEY LEAVE THESE BIG HUMONGOUS HUMPS THAT ARE RAGGEDY AND THEY JUST MAKE THINGS WORSE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK THAT YOU DO. I'M NOT GONNA BASH YOU 'CAUSE I UNDERSTAND HOW SERVICE GET THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY AND ATTENTION. BUT PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE CONTRACTORS. WILLIAMS, I'M IN THE CAROLINA GARDENS, UH, JUST TO SAY, , THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND, UM, I THINK THAT WE CAN TRY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE DOING WORK IN THE CITIES, THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO RETURN THE AREA LIKE IT WAS OR BETTER. UM, THEY TAKE PICTURES BEFORE THE PROJECT, AND THEN WHEN WE DO OUR FINAL WALKTHROUGHS, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO RETURN THE PROJECTS, UM, RETURN THE AREA, UM, LIKE IT WAS BEFORE OR TO IMPROVE IT. SO IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC AREA WHERE, UM, THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED, I KNOW IF YOU CONTACT YOUR, YOUR COUNCIL OFFICE, UM, THEY CAN SCHEDULE A WALKTHROUGH WITH PUBLIC WORKS, UM, SO THAT THOSE, UM, CONTRACTORS CAN COME BACK OUT AND RETURN THE AREA BACK TO, UM, WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AS FAR AS THE ISSUES IN YOUR STREET. UM, THREE ONE ONE IS A CALL CENTER. AND I KNOW PEOPLE GET SO FRUSTRATED AND, AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CHANGE THE VERBIAGE. WE NEED TO CHANGE THE VERBIAGE OF IT SAYING CLOSED. UM, BASICALLY WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS KIND OF SENT IT OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S GONNA HANDLE IT. IT IS A CALL CENTER JUST TO GATHER THE AGGREGATE INFORMATION, UH, FOR DATA USE. UH, AND THEN ONCE THEY SEND IT OVER TO PUBLIC WORKS OR TO WHATEVER DEPARTMENT THE ISSUE NEEDS TO GO TO, THEY CLOSE THE CASE BECAUSE THEIR PART HAS BEEN DONE. UM, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE WORK HAS ACTUALLY TAKEN PLACE. UH, WE ALWAYS REQUIRE OUR RESIDENTS CALL 3 1 1, GET THAT SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER, THEN CALL OUR OFFICE SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON IT. UM, I THINK THAT SYSTEM HAS, HAS WORKED FOR US. UM, IT'S STILL VERY FRUSTRATING, [01:35:01] UM, BUT I KNOW THAT THE, THE COUNCIL OFFICE CAN ASSIST YOU, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE STREET THAT IS CAUSING DAMAGE TO YOUR TIRE. IT HAPPENED TO MY TIRE TOO. SO, LOOK, WE, NOBODY'S IMMUNE. I KNOW, UH, TO THE, TO THE CITY STREETS, I'M AWARE, AND I UNDERSTAND, AS I SAID BEFORE, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FUNCTION OF 3 1 1. IT'S JUST AS YOU SAID, A CALL CENTER, BUT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS MM-HMM . IN THE CITY. AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I HAVE A, A DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS AND A MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE MM-HMM . AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THERE'S A COG WHEEL IN SERVICES, YOU HAVE TO LOOK TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND FILTER OUR WASTE. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE ARE GONNA GET SOME SEMBLANCE OF SATISFACTION. BUT I KNOW YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST, BUT I CAN'T KEEP BUYING VEHICLES. I'M TOO OLD. I CAN'T AFFORD A CAR NOTE. I'M ON A FIXED INCOME. I HEAR YOU. I, I'D RATHER DO MASS TRANSIT, BUT THAT IS LACKING AS WELL. BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT, GETTING IT BETTER. Y'ALL LOOK, Y'ALL ARE DOING IT. WE'RE GETTING BETTER. AND THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T COME HERE TO BATHROOM. I JUST CAME TO VOICE MY CONCERN OF WHERE I FEEL LIKE LITTLE BIT MORE EFFORT SHOULD BE APPLIED. AND I'M UPSET THAT OUR MAYOR IS NOT HERE, BUT I KNOW THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. HIS PASSION IS NOT THERE FOR ME. AND I JUST, I I WILL BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING AS A CITIZEN AS I CAN. BECAUSE IF YOU VISIT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE OF THE BEST CLEANEST NEIGHBORHOODS MM-HMM . BECAUSE WE GET OUTSIDE AND PICK UP THE TRASH DOWN THE STREETS THAT EVERYONE ELSE THROW OUT. WELL, WE SURE WISH EVERYBODY WOULD DO THAT. WELL, I, BECAUSE IT TAKES, IT TAKES A LOT TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN. BUT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER DOES WANT TO ADDRESS IT. SHE OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. AND YOU JOKINGLY SAY THAT I KNOW EVERYBODY, BUT I HAVE CERTAINLY KNOWN, UH, PAT FOR MANY YEARS. HER MOTHER WAS SOMEBODY THAT WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. UM, WE JUST ACTUALLY SAW EACH OTHER AT A LIVING LEGENDS, AND SHE LET ME EAT. SHE NEVER SAID ONE WORD TO ME THAT SHE WAS COMING DOWN HERE TO COUNCIL . BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU, WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WORKS. IF YOU CALL 3 1 1, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO KEEP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IT IS AND WHY THEY HAVEN'T REACHED TO YOU, REACHED OUT TO YOU, UH, INGRAM MITCHUM, UM, WHO'S RIGHT THERE AT THE DOOR, IF YOU CALL HER. WE ACTUALLY HAVE HOURS IN THE SUNNYSIDE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY FOR FACE TO FACE. BUT IF YOU CALL HER, THEN SHE WILL DO YOUR LEG WORK. OKAY. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I PERSONALLY THINK THAT 3 1 1, EXCUSE ME, AND I'M GOING PUBLIC, IS SOMEWHAT OF A BLACK HOLE SOMETIMES TO PEOPLE. AND I HAVE SPOKEN FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THAT WORD CLOSED IS NOT THE WORD SAY, REFERRED. I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOUR PERCEPTION OF THAT IS YOUR REALITY. AND SO IF THEY WOULD AT LEAST JUST CHANGE THAT ONE WORD, BECAUSE YOU CALL BACK AFTER MAKING A REPORT AND YOU HEAR CLOSE, THAT MEANS IT'S DONE. YET YOU'RE LOOKING OUTTA YOUR WINDOW AND YOU'RE SEEING THAT IT IS NOT DONE. SO MAYBE THIS CAN BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CHANGED IF NOTHING ELSE, BUT TO GIVE PEOPLE PEACE OF MIND THAT THIS IS BEING WORKED ON, AND THAT THEY ARE VALIDATED IN THEIR CONCERNS. AND SO I THANK YOU FOR COMING AND CERTAINLY THAT LADY OVER THERE COULD BE YOUR BEST FRIEND. SHE CAN HELP YOU. YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND MY DAUGHTER UTILIZED. SHE WORKED OUT, OH YEAH. SHE GAVE ME AN PRAISE REPORT TODAY, THE STREET. BUT UBA GAVE ME A PRAISE REPORT. SHE SHOWED MY MOTHER WAS A SERIOUS, BIG ADVOCATE OF COMMUNITY. AND I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR MY OUTBURSTS. I WASN'T AWARE OF PROTOCOL THAT I COULDN'T JUST SAY I OPPOSE OR I, BUT I, I'M SORRY, I'S DID NOT MEAN TO DO THAT. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME THE TIME. AND AS I SAID, OUR CIVIC CLUB HAS BEEN DISBANDED FOR A WHILE OVER THERE BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS BASICALLY DIED. I'VE BEEN OVER THERE ALMOST 50 YEARS. I FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD BE THE PRESIDENT. WELL, I WOULDN'T MIND. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THERE YOU GO. COUNCIL, GET THEM ANY HELP WITH, UH, UH, GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S GONNA HELP YOU GET THAT CIVIC CLUB BACK TOGETHER TO DO FLYERS AND THINGS. BUT THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND, AND TALK TO AMY, YOU FOR BEING, BEING HERE ABOUT YOUR CIVIC CLUB. SHE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT AS WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND THANK YOU, PAT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. EVELYN KRODY, BE FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE MCNEIL. HI. GOOD MOR, UH, [01:40:01] AFTERNOON. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TO LISTEN TO ALL OF OUR CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS AND TO HELP US GET RESOLUTION. WE, UM, STEP THE, ALL OF US IN THIS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? ALL OF US IN THE, UH, THE ROOM HERE. UM, AND I KNOW WE THANK YOU AT THE END OF THE DAY. UM, I AM DY I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOULEVARD OAKS CIVIC ASSOCIATION. WE ARE 1400 HOUSEHOLDS BETWEEN MORNINGSIDE AND GROUSE DARK ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 59. UM, WHAT I'M REALLY HERE TO DO IS TO TELL YOU THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIX BRIDGES THAT ARE ON US 59 BETWEEN SHEPHERD AND MAIN STREET. THESE BRIDGES ARE DARK, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SURFACE OF THE STREET. I'M TALKING ABOUT 12 TO 14 FOOT HIGH POLE LIGHTS, FOUR PER BRIDGE THAT HAVE BEEN OUT FOR A VERY LONG TIME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. PERHAPS IT WAS NEVER HIGHLIGHTED BETTER THAN IN THE RECENT ICE PROTEST ON FEBRUARY 5TH THAT YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT, WHERE WE HAD PEOPLE WANTING MORE ATTENTION FROM THE TRAFFIC BELOW ON THE FREEWAY MAIN LANES, AND PEOPLE WENT DOWN THE EMBANKMENTS INTO THE MAIN LANES OF THE FREEWAY IN THE DARK. NOT ONLY ARE THE LIGHTS ON THE BRIDGES OUT, BUT 80% OF THE LIGHTS BETWEEN SHEPHERD AND MAIN STREET, THAT LIGHT, THE FREEWAY MAIN LANES ARE ALSO OUT. OUR GROUP IS HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE OF THE BRIDGE STREETLIGHTS, NOT THE ARCH LIGHTS THAT I KNOW HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE DECOUPLED FROM THE, THE TURNING ON OF THE LIGHTS DECOUPLED FROM ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE ARCHES, JUST SO THAT WE CAN RESTORE PUBLIC SAFETY. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF INCIDENTS ON THESE BRIDGES NOW THAT THEY'RE DARK. IN ONE INSTANCE, A NEIGHBOR SON WHO WAS IN HIS TEENS, WAS WALKING HOME ACROSS THE BRIDGES AND WAS ASSAULTED AND ENDED UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE HE COULDN'T SEE WHAT WAS COMING. UM, IN OTHER INSTANCES, WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE, GOD BLESS THEM, UM, THAT ARE HAVING TO CAMP ON THE BRIDGES, BUT THEY LIKE THE DARKNESS. AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE ON THE ELEVATED SECTION OF THE WALLS, AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK. THIS FORCES PEOPLE INTO THE STREET TO WALK, AND THEY'RE REALLY WALKING IN THE DARK. THERE'S NO LIGHT COMING FROM THE FREEWAY, AND THERE'S NO LIGHT ON THE STREETS. SO IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR THEM. UM, LET'S SEE. I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT CATHERINE WAS GOING FIRST. , I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE TIMELINE ABOUT THESE BRIDGES. UM, THEY WERE PUT IN BY TEXT OUT, OF COURSE, WHEN THE, WHEN 59 WAS DEPRESSED BETWEEN SHEPHERD AND EVENTUALLY MAIN STREET. AND IN 2009, THE WEST MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WAS CREATED THEN IN EVELYN. EVELYN, YOU CAN USE SOME OF MY TIME. THANK YOU. THEN IN 2011, THE WEST MONTROSE DISTRICT MERGED WITH THE EAST MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. IN 2017, THE MATTRESS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT REPLACED THE LIGHTS ON THE BRIDGES. PREVIOUSLY THEY HAD BEEN CENTER POINT POLES THAT WERE PAID FOR, THE ELECTRICITY WAS PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE TYPE OF LIGHTING, UM, I GUESS IT CAST FUNNY SHADOWS OR WASN'T AS IDEAL AS THE LIGHTS THAT THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT PUT IN, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE SOME TYPE OF LED LIGHTS. AND, UM, ANYWAY, UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAN MONTROSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH HAD TAKEN OVER THE PAYMENTS FOR THE ELECTRICITY WAS DISSOLVED. NOW, IF I COULD READ TO YOU CHAPTER TH 3 75 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. IT SAYS, WHEN, UM, A MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS DISSOLVED, THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL PUBLISH NOTICE AND HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS. I DON'T RECALL ANY OF THOSE ON THE DISSOLUTION. THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL ASSUME THE ASSETS, DEBTS, AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF THE AUTHORITY. THE LIGHTS ARE ASSETS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. NOW, THEN CITY OF HOUSTON ORDINANCE CASES AND YOUR OWN WEBSITE STATE THAT TRAFFIC BRIDGE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE NETWORK OF ROADS IN A SAFE AND PASSABLE WAY. THE TEAM HANDLES OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS, SCHOOL ZONES, FLASHING SIGNS, FREEWAY LIGHTS, AND BRIDGE LIGHTS. SO, EVELYN, EVELYN, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER SPEAKERS, THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. I'M WRAPPING UP. UM, NO, I APPRECIATE THE HISTORY. 'CAUSE AGAIN, SOME [01:45:01] OF US WEREN'T HERE, HERE FOR SOME OF IT, AND I'M TRUSTING, UH, YOU, YOU COMMUNICATE A LOT WITH OUR OFFICE THAT YOU'LL SHARE THOSE CODES WITH US, UH, AS WELL. BUT I THINK IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE HISTORY THAT MAYBE ANOTHER SPEAKER'S GONNA SPEAK ON IS THE SOLUTION THAT WE HAD COME UP WITH THAT ALLEVIATED THE COST AND THE BURDEN OF REPAIRS PRIMARILY OFF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHILE ENSURING SAFETY OF THE BRIDGES THEMSELVES. SO THAT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO AFTER ALL OF THIS HISTORY OF, YOU KNOW, THE BRIDGES WORKING, NOT WORKING, WHO'S ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY, THE CITY'S LIABILITY FOR IT, AND THEN COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION TO FUND THAT, UH, WHICH IS, HAS GONE AWAY AS OF A FEW MONTHS AGO. SO I WAS THAT WHEN THE CITY DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITY TO HOUSTON FIRST FOR THE FUNDING AND MAINTENANCE? THAT'S CORRECT. BUT DID THAT ALSO INCLUDE THE STREETLIGHTS, OR IS IT SPECIFICALLY THE ARCH LIGHTS? THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF CONFUSION WITHIN THE CITY ABOUT WHICH LIGHTS WERE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO, IT WAS FOR I BELIEVE ALL LIGHTING. AND I, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION THAT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE BACK. AGAIN, WE'RE SUBMITTING QUESTIONS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THINGS STAND. UH, I I THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE INTERTWINED TO A SPECIFIC RIGHT. UH, BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THEY HAVE SOME OF THE SAME CIRCUITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WE WILL ASK THAT QUESTION FOR YOU, AND I APPRECIATE IT, THAT, THAT WOULD BE SUPER. CAN CAN I QUICKLY FINISH UP OR WE DO NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. OKAY. I JUST LIKE TO SAY IN CLOSING THAT THERE'S OVER 3.5 BILLION IN PROPERTY VALUES ABUTTING THIS FREEWAY IN THIS SECTION THAT USE THESE BRIDGES EVERY DAY. SURELY THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON OR THE STREETLIGHTS. THANK YOU. WE DEFINITELY WILL WORK ON IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CATHERINE MCNEIL. CATHERINE MCNEIL. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M HERE IN MY ROLE AS MY CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE MAMA CIVIC CLUB, WHICH IS, UH, RIGHT SOUTH OF 59. AND, UM, A BUTS BOCA, I, UH, WE USE THE BRIDGES THAT CROSS 59 CONTINUALLY. UH, CVS IS RIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE. PIT BARBECUE IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STARK BRIDGE, UH, NEAR TOWN. LITTLE LEAGUE USES THE WOODHEAD, THE, SORRY, THE DUNLEVY BRIDGE. THE PARK IS RIGHT THERE. JUST THAT ONE EXAMPLE AFTER ANOTHER HAZARD BRIDGE. THIS BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THAT HAZARD IS FOR PRO ELEMENTARY. WE USE THESE BRIDGES ALL THE TIME. WE CONSIDER OURSELVES TO BE A WALKING NEIGHBORHOOD. WE LIKE THAT THESE BRIDGES ARE DARK. THERE'S, THERE'S NO LIGHT. SO IT REALLY IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. UH, UM, WHAT I BRING WITH YOU, WHAT'S BEING PASSED OUT IS A LETTER FROM OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD UNIVERSITY PLACE THAT WAS EMAILED TO EVERYONE IN DECEMBER, A LETTER FROM MY CIVIC CLUB MAMA. AND WE HAVE THREE SCHOOLS, AND I HAVE A SIGNED LETTER BY THE THREE PRINCIPAL HEADS OF PRESBYTERIAN JOY SCHOOL AND POST OAK SCHOOL, ALL ASKING THAT THE CITY, PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY STREETS AND THE CITY BRIDGES THAT CROSSED THEM. COUNCIL MEMBER ALKER. THANKS CATHERINE FOR COMING AND THANKS FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE SCHOOLS. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND, YOU KNOW, METRO'S RECENTLY TAKEN OVER ALL THE COST OF THE STREETLIGHTS, YOU KNOW, SO ADAM, THE STREETLIGHTS IS, IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES. AND I CAN ASK COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, IS THAT FINE? IS IT A MATTER OF TURNING 'EM ON OR SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE, I I, I, WE DON'T KNOW. THEY'VE JUST BEEN OUT NOW FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. OKAY. AND, AND IT, AND YEAH, AND WE DON'T KNOW. WELL, BUT I MEAN, IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING YEAH. THAT THEIR CITY, STREET, CITY BRIDGES, THEY'RE, THEY ARE. AND, AND WE RECENTLY METRO'S PAYING LIKE $27 MILLION A YEAR TO PAY FOR ALL OUR STREET LIGHTS. SO ADD TO THE LIST, MAN, UNLESS SOMETHING'S BROKEN WITH THEM, IN WHICH CASE WE NEED TO FIX IT. MY MY MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE FIXED WITH THE LIGHTING THEMSELVES. THAT'S WHY HOUSTON FIRST HAD ALREADY FUNDED AND DONE A STUDY TO ASSESS THE OPTIONS FOR IT. AND THERE WERE, I BELIEVE, THREE SEPARATE OPTIONS THAT THIS, THAT THEY COULD MOVE FORWARD ON FOR THOSE SPECIFIC REPAIRS. AND THE CITY AT THE TIME WORKED WITH HOUSTON FIRST TO SELECT ONE OF THE OPTIONS AND MOVE FORWARD. AND THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL HAD VOTED ON. SO I, I THINK THERE ARE SOME REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED AND WE HAD AUTHORIZED THOSE PREVIOUSLY AND NOW IT, IT'S DEAD IN THE WATER, IF I MAY. YEAH, I, I AGREE. I MEAN, I VOTED, I VOTED ON THAT AS WELL, UM, IN [01:50:01] SUPPORT OF THAT. BUT I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN LOST NOW IN THE DECORATIVE LIGHTING VERSUS THESE POLES WITH THE STREETLIGHTS. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS THE, THE STREETLIGHTS WITHOUT THE DECORATIVE LIGHTING, IF, IF THOSE, WELL, AS EVELYN SPOKE TO, I, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE TIED TOGETHER OR IF THEY'RE SEPARATED, BUT THOSE BRIDGES ARE DARK RIGHT THERE. THERE'S NO WHITE LIGHT, THERE'S NO DECORATIVE LIGHTS. IT'S JUST DARK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN, YOU'RE DONE. NO, CATHERINE, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT, UH, SOME OF THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP HAD SIGNED UP TODAY. THEY'RE UNDER THE WEATHER, SO THEY COULDN'T BE HERE. BUT CATHERINE, I THANK A YOU HAVE, I APOLOGIZE. I'M SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT. NO, THAT'S OKAY. BUT I, I, IT'S HELPFUL TO ME, RIGHT. 'CAUSE I WORK WITH THE CIVIC CLUBS AND THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND HEAR FROM THEM. THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE SOLUTION TO BEGIN WITH. BUT KNOWING THE SCHOOLS ARE ALSO VERY CONCERNED IS, IS, UH, AN ADDED LAYER ON TOP OF THIS. AND AS YOU MENTIONED WITH IRVIN CHEW PARK, LITTLE LEAGUE JUST STARTED THEIR SEASON AND I KNOW THEY'RE WORRIED AS WELL. CORRECT. AND THAT PARK IS USED BY MANY. AND, UH, MAR JOYCE, WHO YOU CALLED EARLIER AND THERE WAS DEAD SILENCE IS ILL TODAY. AND SHE'S THE HEAD OF THE POST OAK SCHOOL. IT'S POST OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL, POST OAK HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEY'RE RIGHT THERE AT 59 IN MONTROSE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE THAT LETTER NOW. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JOHN GEIS. JOHN GEIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHARON MATTHEWS AFTERNOON, MAYOR PROTE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I'M ANOTHER BRIDGE SPEAKER AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN, I REMEMBER, UH, A FEW YEARS AGO, OH, FIRST OFF, I'M THE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE RICHWOOD CIVIC PLACE CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND THE AT LARGE MEMBER OF THE NEAR TOWN ASSOCIATION, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 24, A FEW YEARS AGO, OUR ASSOCIATION AND ALL THE ONES SURROUNDING THAT AREA, YOUR OFFICE ASKED ALL OF US, WELL THESE LIGHTS ARE LOOKING SO BAD NOW. 'CAUSE THEY'RE, MOST OF 'EM ARE BROKEN. SOME OF 'EM ARE ON, SOME OF 'EM ARE STUCK ON ALL THE TIME. WOULD YOU LIKE IT BETTER IF WE JUST TURN 'EM OFF? AND EVERYBODY SAID, YES, LET'S JUST TURN 'EM OFF. AND I THINK AT THAT TIME, THEY JUST TURNED EVERYTHING OFF. AND I HAVE A 40 YEAR CAREER IN THE AUDIO LIGHTING AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE, THE LIGHTING THAT'S ON THOSE BRIDGES. AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THE STREETLIGHTS AND THE DECORATIVE LIGHTS ARE ON SEPARATE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS. AND EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT, THERE'S A CONTROLLER FOR THE DECORATIVE LIGHTING THAT YOU COULD EASILY JUST UNPLUG THE POWER TO IT AND THEN IT WOULD DECOUPLE IT FROM THE STREETLIGHTS. I LOOKED AT THE, I LOOK AT BY 200 FEET FROM THE HAZARD STREET BRIDGE. THERE'S A BOX UP ON THE ARCH AND A BOX DOWN ON THE GROUND. ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO CONTAIN THAT CONTROLLER FOR ALL THE LED LIGHTS THAT WERE ON THE BRIDGE. IT'D BE VERY EASY TO NOT POWER THEM WHILE YOU POWER BACK UP THE STREET LIGHTS. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT SINCE ALL THE STREET LIGHTS ARE OUT. AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL OVER TIME. I THINK THAT WHEN THEY JUST WANTED TO TURN OFF THOSE BRIDGE LIGHTS, THEY, THEY JUST CUT THE POWER TO EVERYTHING. SO, YEAH. AND YOU DONE JOHN? YEAH, THAT'S IT FOR THE BRIDGE. BUT THEN I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE. . OH, WELL WHY DON'T YOU SAY WHAT YOU HAD. OKAY. WELL, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON STEVE LONGMEYER AS, UH, COMMENTS ON THE AGENDA. ITEMS ONE AND TWO ON THE BOARD FOR MONTROSE, TOUR NUMBER 27, ABBY NOBLES AND JEFF WATERS ON ALL THE BOARD MONTROSE TOUR BOARD MEETINGS. SINCE THE REDESIGN FOR THE MONTROSE BOULEVARD REDESIGN WAS ANNOUNCED, ALMOST ALL OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, AND THERE'VE BEEN A LOT OF 'EM AT ALL THOSE BOARD MEETINGS SINCE THE REDESIGN WAS ANNOUNCED, HAVE SPOKEN IN FAVOR OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. AND JEFFREY WATERS AND ABBY NOBLES BOTH VOTED AGAINST THE REDESIGN. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE LISTENING TO ALL THE SPEAKERS, NOW THEY'RE GONNA BE REMOVED FROM THE BOARD. JUST WANTED TO GET THAT. UH, NO, I APPRECIATE IT, JOHN. UH, VERY MUCH GOING BACK TO THE BRIDGES, JUST SO THE RECORD'S CLEAR WHILE I ASKED, HEY, WHAT IF WE JUST SHUT OFF THE DECORATIVE AND KEPT THE REGULAR LIGHTS ON? UH, I IN NO WAY ASKED THE CITY TO SHUT OFF ALL THE LIGHTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT WAS IN THE CON THAT WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF US TRYING TO FIND A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE SOLUTION TO MAINTAIN SAFETY. AND, AND ART SHOULD NOT BE A BAD WORD HERE. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE BEAUTIFICATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BUT FOR PRACTICALITY AND SAFETY, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ASK WAS WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO GET THE LIGHTS UP AND GOING? AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA KEEP ASKING THAT QUESTION. I THINK IT CAN PROBABLY BE DONE [01:55:01] WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT. YOU KNOW, AND THEY SEND OUT SOME ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS FROM THE CITY. AND SO WE'LL, WHAT WE WILL ABSOLUTELY INQUIRE WITH HOUSTON FIRST AS TO WHAT THE STUDIES HAD SHOWN. UM, AGAIN, IT COUNCIL MY COLLEAGUES HEARD ME ASK, WELL, CAN WE JUST GET THE LIGHTS ON THE, THE BASIC STREET LIGHTING ON? UH, WE DID NOT GET A RESPONSE BACK ON THAT, BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND I APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, WELL, I HOPE WE CAN GET 'EM BACK ON. 'CAUSE AS EVERYBODY SAID, IT'S, IT'S AWFULLY DARK ON THOSE BRUISES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, SHARON MATTHEWS. SHARON MATTHEWS. MY NAME'S SHARON MATTHEWS, AND I'M ALSO SPEAKING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE BRIDGES. THESE ARE REALLY JUST CONTINUATIONS OF STREETS. UH, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT HAZARD STREET AND, UM, DUN LAVY MANDEL, ALL THESE STREETS PEOPLE GO BACK AND FORTH TO, NOT ONLY THE SCHOOLS YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT, AND I'M PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT POE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UH, WHICH OF COURSE THEY GO TO SCHOOL IN THE DAYTIME, BUT THEY HAVE MANY EVENING EVENTS. AND MOST RECENTLY THEY HAD A VALENTINE FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE. AND NOT EVERYBODY AT THAT SCHOOL HAS CARS. THEY COUNT ON BEING ABLE TO WALK ACROSS THE HAZARD STREET BRIDGE TO, UM, PARTICIPATE, YOU KNOW, IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. UM, THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A POST OFFICE, THERE ARE CHURCHES, THERE ARE SCHOOLS, THERE ARE STORES. WE ALL GO BACK AND FORTH. AND NOT JUST IN CARS. THERE ARE RICE STUDENTS WHO ARE RIDING SCOOTERS AND EVERYTHING. YOU CAN IMAGINE BIKES BACK AND FORTH. LE LANIER MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS ARE OUT LATER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. UM, WE NEED, WE NEED TO GET THE STREET LIGHTS ON, PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, DID YOU HAVE A, YOU STILL IN THE QUEUE? THANKS. NEXT SPEAKER. EMMA ROGERS. EMMA ROGERS. EMMA ROGERS. NEXT SPEAKER DOUGLAS RAY, BRO. DOUGLAS RAY, BRO, TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHNNY GRAHAM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PROAM TEM COUNCIL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY NAME IS GLENN MASSEY. I'M THE PRINCIPAL OWNER OF A COMPANY CALLED WELL SELL GLOBAL SELL. WE WERE LOOKING FOR DOUGLAS RAY, BRO. IS THAT YOU? DR. BRO IS IN THE AUDIENCE AND I'M SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF. SO WE NEED MR. MR. BRO, ARE YOU PLANNING TO SPEAK TODAY? NO, WE NEED A MOTION. YEAH, THERE WE GO. WE NEED A TELL US YOUR NAME, SIR, TO THIS GENTLEMAN FOR THE OTHER GENTLEMAN. SECOND. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? GLEN MASSEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION TO, UM, SUBSTITUTE GLEN MASSEY FOR DOUGLAS RAY? BRO. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES. GO AHEAD. UH, MY NAME IS GLEN MASSEY. I'M THE PRINCIPAL OWNER OF A COMPANY CALLED WELL SELL GLOBAL, CELL. SO IF YOU'RE EVER ON JEOPARDY, AND THEY ASK YOU HOW MANY CELLS ARE IN THE HUMAN BODY, 56 TRILLION. SO YOU WON'T BE STUMPED. OKAY. SO OUR COMPANY AND OUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE SINCE 2014, WE WERE BORN HERE IN HOUSTON, IS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO, HOW TO COMBAT THE COMORBIDITIES OF DIABETES. DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYBODY WITH DIABETES RAISE THEIR HAND? IS IT A RAVAGING DISEASE? ONE THAT'S PROGRESSIVE AND THERE'S NO ANSWER TO, BUT WE'VE DEVELOPED A PATENTED TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS PEOPLE FIGHT DIABETES, NOT ONLY WOUND SALVAGE WOUND CARE, HEALING, UH, NEUROPATHY, ALL THE THINGS THAT REALLY KEEP A PERSON IN THE HOSPITAL FOR DIABETES. WE LOWER, UH, HEALTHCARE COSTS DRAMATICALLY, AND WE DO THIS ACROSS THE NATION. WE'VE DONE OVER 450,000 INFUSIONS SINCE 2015. WE'VE OPENED OVER 210 CLINICS IN THE UNITED STATES. WE ARE OPENING IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THAILAND NEXT YEAR. WHY? BECAUSE DIABETES IS RAVAGING THE WORLD. SO WHY AM I HERE TODAY? I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH DR. BRO AND SON RICHARD, BY THE WAY, PATIENTS OF OURS AND HAVE BEEN FOR FIVE YEARS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE PUT A DIABETES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN SUNNYSIDE. IT'S OUR TIME AT WELL CELL TO GIVE BACK AND WHY NOT THERE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND RAVAGED BY THE DISEASE. SO THAT'S OUR REQUEST TODAY. IT'S HOW WE GO FORWARD. AND REALLY OUR TECHNOLOGY WILL BE THE GROUND FLOOR CENTER OF DIABETES EXCELLENCE FOR THIS FACILITY. SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY. SO I GUESS OUR MAIN QUESTION IS WHO DO WE TALK TO TO GO FORWARD? MR. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. MR. BRO, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED. YOU SAY THAT, [02:00:01] UH, YOU SPOKE OF, UH, PARTICULARLY SUNNYSIDE, RIGHT? SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO BREAK GROUND INTO THAT COMMUNITY, OR YOU'RE TRYING TO, UH, FURTHER YOUR, YOUR PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS HEALTH, UH, OFFER. A CLINIC IN SUNNYSIDE HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. IT'S BEEN VACANT, NO ONE'S IN IT. AND OUR OBJECT WOULD BE TO REVITALIZE WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY AND REOPEN THAT CENTER IN SUNNYSIDE, THAT CLINIC. OKAY. I THINK YOU, YOU'RE SPEAKING OF THE, UH, OLD MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING. I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING. THAT'S AT WILMINGTON AND CULLEN, EXCUSE ME, I THINK AT WILMINGTON AND CULLEN. YES. THAT'S THE BUILDING. YES, THAT'S CORRECT. YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, OKAY. SO TELL ME, LET ME ASK A QUESTION. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THUS FAR? WHEN DID YOU START THE QUEST FOR THIS BUILDING? I THINK A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IS WHEN DR. BROLEY STARTED THE QUEST, AND I THINK HE'S SPOKEN TO YOU AND SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. WELL, NO, I WASN'T HERE THEN. OKAY. I'M SORRY. I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS AND FACTS. ALL I KNOW OVER HERE. YEAH, YOU PROBABLY SPOKE, YEAH, YOU PROBABLY SPOKE TO COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, WHO IS THE, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER. I'M AT LARGE, BUT I I I BECAME AWARE OF WHAT, WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO AND I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR AS TO YOUR SUBMISSION OF THAT AND WHAT HAVE YOU RAN INTO, UH, PARTICULARLY IN THE PROCESS. I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THE DETAILS. ALL I KNOW IS FROM WHERE I SPEAK, IS THAT OUR, OUR TECHNOLOGY WILL BE THE CORE THAT WILL SET THE LIGHT OFF IN THAT FACILITY THAT'S BEEN VACANT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TO TELL YOU WHAT'S BEEN DR. BRO COULD EASILY ADDRESS THAT. I CAN'T GO THROUGH ALL THE, WHAT, ALL I KNOW IS I'LL, I'M LOOKING FORWARD FOR OUR COMPANY TO BE A BIG PART OF IT. OKAY. WELL, CELL LAST POINT I WANT, WELL, CELL IS, IS HEADQUARTERED. WHERE IS THAT? IN HOUSTON? WE'RE OFF THE KATY FREEWAY. OKAY. BEEN HERE SINCE 2014. 14, OKAY. YES, SIR. VERY GOOD. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARD. UH, EVAN CHAVE. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI. THANK YOU. UH, MR. MASSEY. DR. BRO HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY, UH, ON TRYING TO ACCESS THAT BUILDING. UM, DIABETES IS JUST RAMPANT, PARTICULARLY IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. AND TO HAVE THAT FACILITY THERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE, AND THE SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED TO HELP OVERCOME THIS DISEASE WOULD BE PHENOMENAL. I DO KNOW THAT, UH, I'VE BEEN TOLD WHETHER THERE ARE BIDS FOR THIS BUILDING, BUT HOPEFULLY THERE CAN BE AN EDGE GIVEN TO DR. BRO AND, AND HIS EFFORTS FOR WHAT IT CAN ACTUALLY BRING TO THE COMMUNITY. AND SO I FULLY SUPPORT HIM AND, AND THE EFFORTS. I SEE, UH, THE HONORABLE MAYOR, SANDRA MASSEY HINES OUT THERE, WHO'S BEEN A, A JUST A, A CHEERLEADER FOR THESE EFFORTS. AND CERTAINLY I HOPE THAT THE MAYOR, IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND, AND, AND TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHICH ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BETTER SERVE THAT COMMUNITY, I'D CERTAINLY WANNA BE A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. AND, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER, CAN YOU SET UP A, A MEETING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MAYBE FOR THEM TO GO AND SPEAK WITH? I, I, I DO BELIEVE HE HAS HAD SOME MEETINGS. I THINK DR. BRO IS GOING TO COME UP AND SPEAK. CORRECT. AND THEN CERTAINLY, UM, NO, DR. BRO IS NOT GONNA SPEAK. HE SAID HE WAS SPEAKING ON HIS BEHALF. OH. SPEAK. BUT MAY I SUGGEST THAT YOUR OFFICE SET UP A TIME TO SPEAK WITH THE HEALTH DEPART? I CERTAINLY WILL TAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU. AND WE WILL CERTAINLY DO THAT BECAUSE I AM YOUR TIME TODAY. I'M FULLY, FULLY BEHIND THESE EFFORTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. MR. RIC. COUNCILMAN RICARDO, ARE YOU IN THE QUEUE? MR. MASS? MR. MASSEY? MR. MASSEY? MR. MASSEY. UM, QUICK QUESTION. I HAD CHECKED ON THOSE BUILDINGS A WHILE BACK. HAVE YOU ALL BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH CYNTHIA WILSON, WITH THE MAYOR, WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE? NO. I'VE GOT AN EMAIL EARLY BEGINNING. WE DID. OKAY. WE CAN, UH, I'LL SHOW YOU SOME EMAIL. WE, WE'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING BACK AND FORTH, I THINK WHEN I SPOKE WITH YOU ALL LAST. AND WE'LL GET, I'LL GET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SHABASH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. JOHNNY GRAHAM. JOHNNY GRAHAM. JOHNNY GRAHAM. NITOS BE FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN BROADWAY. HELLO. UH, NICE TO SEE, UH, MANY OF YOU AGAIN. IT'S MY SECOND TIME SPEAKING IN THE LAST, UH, TWO AND A HALF MONTHS, THE LAST TIME I SPOKE ABOUT NOISE ISSUES IN, UH, SHADY ACRES. STILL A GREAT CONCERN OF MINE, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT NOISE TODAY. I'M ABOUT HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE, WHICH IS POLICE PRESENCE IN THE, IN SHADY ACRES. [02:05:01] AND, UH, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH. AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND IT'S NOT JUST TO RESIDENTS LIKE ME AND MY, UH, MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, BUT ALSO TO THE COMMERCIAL OWNERS HIMSELF, UH, THEMSELVES. AND I'M HERE ACTUALLY WITH AN UNLIKELY ALLY, UH, ZACH TRUSDALE, UH, WHO OWNS TWO SOON TO BE THREE OF THE BARS. SO I STILL HAVE DISAGREEMENTS WITH HIM ABOUT NOISE, BUT HE AGREES THAT WE NEED MUCH MORE POLICE PRESENCE IN SHADY ACRES. IT'S HARMFUL TO HIS BUSINESS, NOT TO, IT'S HARMFUL TO RESIDENTS, NOT TO, UH, AND I, I JUST DON'T, I JUST FEEL THE CITY DOESN'T APPRECIATE HOW, UH, BUSY SHADY ACRES IS. SO ACCORDING TO, UH, TEXAS TOBACCO AND BEVERAGE COMMISSION NUMBERS, THE 0.3 MILES ON SHADY ACRES ON 20TH STREET BETWEEN BEVIS AND BEAL, UH, IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY HAD $1,691,818 OF ALCOHOL SALES 0.3 MILES. AND THAT'S JUST SIX BARS, UH, TWO OF WHICH ARE OWNED BY MY, UH, MY COMMERCIAL NEIGHBOR HERE. SO THAT'S OVER $2 MILLION WITH FOOD INCLUDED. UH, AND WHILE EVERY CLUB HAS ONE OR TWO MOSTLY OFF-DUTY OFFICERS AT THEIR LOCATION, UH, THERE, THERE'S NO COP ON DUTY FOR TRAFFIC. SO WASHINGTON AVENUE I UNDERSTAND HAS AT LEAST SIX UH, CARS THERE TO HANDLE TRAFFIC FOR TRAFFIC AND, UH, VEHICLE TRAFFIC EVERY WEEKEND. PROPORTIONALLY, IT'S, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW 20TH STREET DOESN'T HAVE THAT YET. UH, COPS COULD PREVENT SOME OF THE CRIMES MY NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED AS WELL. IF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ'S, UH, POSSIBLE REVISIONS TO THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW NOT JUST NOISE UNIT POLICE OFFICERS, BUT ALL POLICE OFFICERS TO ISSUE, UH, CITATIONS FOR NOISE AND VIBRATION, WHICH I'M HOPING, UM, YOU KNOW, HAS, HAS HAD PROGRESS, UH, ON POLICE PRESENCE, WOULD HELP, WOULD HELP WITH THAT AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE OVERTIME PROGRAMS THAT HPD OFFICERS HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THAT COULD MAYBE ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE, BUT I THINK WE NEED SOMETHING MORE REGULAR THAN OVERTIME. THERE'S CRIME, THERE'S NOISE. UH, AND THE, THE OWNERS OF THE CLUB, UH, INCLUDING THE ONE HERE HAVE TOLD ME THAT ON WASHINGTON IT TOOK FATALITIES OF PEOPLE GETTING RUN OVER, UH, TO ACTUALLY GET POLICE PRESENCE ON WASHINGTON. SO, UH, I'M HERE TO PLEAD THAT, THAT HAPPENS ON 20TH BEFORE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UH, TRAGIC HAPPENS HERE. AMEN. THANK YOU, MAYOR PERAM. NICO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. I THINK YOU SAID ZACH, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK WHICH BARS HIGH SOCIAL BOULEVARD PARK AND SOON TO BE LTM O THE ONES THAT ARE CHALLENGING, UH, THE SOUND ORDINANCE AT THE MOMENT. CORRECT? CORRECT. YEAH. SO Y'ALL ARE CHALLENGING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO STRENGTHEN, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY. THE, UH, NICO REGARDING HPD, UH, MY OFFICE, YOU TALKED ABOUT OVERTIME FUNDING. MY OFFICE IS CONTINUING TO FUND, UH, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN OVERTIME FUNDING FOR HPD. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE, IT, IT'S CENTRAL PATROL. YOU HAVE WASHINGTON AVENUE, SHADY ACRES HEIGHTS PROPER. SO 19TH AND 20TH AND WHITE OAK OVER THERE AND MEMORIAL PARK. AND THEY ARE NOT, THEY, THEY'RE LIKE STRETCHED THIN. AND THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS JUST ON THE PHONE WITH CENTRAL TODAY, NOT ONLY ABOUT THE SHOOTING, UH, THAT JUST HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND, AGAIN, ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE, BUT WE HAVE LIKE ST. PATTY'S DAY COMING UP. AND WHEN WE HAD MEETINGS IN THE PAST, EMS AND FIRE HAVE SAID THEY CANNOT SAFELY MANAGE ALL OF THOSE AREAS AND RESPOND, UH, TO THOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST OVERWHELMED. AND IT'S A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE SECURED FUNDING THANKS TO CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER, UH, FOR NEW SIDEWALKS. BUT THERE WERE BUSINESSES ALONG THAT CORRIDOR ALONG 19TH AND 20TH THAT CHALLENGED, UH, WHERE THE ARMADILLOS THAT SEPARATE THE SIDEWALK AND THE ROAD WERE PLACED. SO NOW HALF OF THOSE HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND EVERYONE'S USING THAT AT PARKING, PUSHING PEOPLE INTO THE ROADS AGAIN. UH, WE ARE TRYING TO WORK. SO FOR BEAVIS, UH, WE HAVE THE TURKEY GULLY DRAINAGE AND FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT THAT'S GONNA ADD IN SIDEWALKS ALONG THERE. 'CAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE PARKING RIGHT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 19TH AND 20TH. AND THEN WALKING THROUGH ALL THOSE STREETS WITH NO SIDEWALKS. ALL OF THAT'S TO SAY, UH, WE HAVE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE ON OUR HANDS, UH, WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. MM-HMM . AND HPD IS STRETCHED THIN. SO I I COMPLETELY AGREE. WE MEAN WE NEED MORE TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND MANAGEMENT. I COMPLETELY AGREE. WE NEED THE PARTNERSHIP OF OUR BARS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TRULY. AND I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU OUTSIDE AFTER, UH, REGARDING THE SOUND ORDINANCE WITH COUNT, WHICH COUNTS, MEMBER ALCORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ AND I ALL WORKED ON TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN. UH, RIGHT NOW, PATROL VEHICLES [02:10:01] CAN ISSUE CITATIONS, UH, THAT ARE NOT A PART OF THE LOUD NOISE UNIT. THAT'S WHY WE FUNDED ADDITIONAL SOUND MONITORS. BUT PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS THEY CAN ONLY RESPOND TO A COMPLAINT. THEY CANNOT PROACTIVELY GO TO A BAR, TAKE THEIR OWN MEASUREMENTS, AND THEN ISSUE CITATIONS. THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL A RESIDENT CALLS IN A COMPLAINT AND IT HAS TO BE CITED BY THE RESIDENT. COULD I, COULD I JUST ADD ON THIS PLEASE? 3 1 1 WAS MENTIONED EARLIER AS A BLACK HOLE. WHEN YOU GET AN ACTUAL NOISE CITATION, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT THINGS LIKE COURT DATES. UH, AND, YOU KNOW, THE ULT LIKE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED? UH, 'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY JUST PAY THE, THE FEE AND THERE ISN'T A TRIAL. LIKE I'VE HAD NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE BEEN ON 3, 1, 1, 2, 3 HOURS, MULTIPLE CALLS TO TRY TO GET THAT INFORMATION. YEAH. AND, AND THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM. AND WE'RE TRYING TO MONITOR IT. SO NICO, YOU'VE BEEN A TERRIFIC PARTNER. YOU'VE BEEN A VERY REASONABLE VOICE, UH, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ADVOCATING FOR SAFETY, ADVOCATING FOR COMMON SENSE. UM, I KNOW COUNCIL RAMIREZ IS WORKING AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEAN ON NICO AND OTHERS, UM, AS A RESOURCE AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS. I'M ON THE PHONE WITH HPD PRETTY MUCH WEEKLY AT THIS POINT, ASKING WHAT ELSE WE CAN BE DOING WHEN THERE LITERALLY ARE NOT ENOUGH OFFICERS TO COVER HOW MANY BARS ARE CROPPING UP LITERALLY IN 0.3 MILES. RIGHT? AND A LOT OF THIS BUSINESS ISN'T JUST ENTIRELY NEW. IT'S BEING TRANSFERRED FROM WASHINGTON TO 20TH. SO, I MEAN, WASHINGTON DOES HAVE POLICE PRESENCE. I'M KIND OF JUST A LITTLE FRUSTRATED AND CONFUSED. THE POLICE PRESENCE HASN'T ALSO FOLLOWED THE DOLLARS AS MUCH BECAUSE, I MEAN, WASHINGTON ISN'T AS BUSY BECAUSE 20TH IS, I, I WOULD JUST SAY WASHINGTON IS, IS IS VERY, VERY BUSY TOO. COURSE I DON'T WANT, IT'S NOT AN RIGHT, IT'S NOT AN OR. I THINK IT'S AN COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN. MAYBE IF Y'ALL CAN KIND OF TAKE THAT, THAT'S A GREAT RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU. SO FOR THE, THE OFFLINE, BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO MOVE ON, WE'VE GOT A QUITE A LENGTHY AGENDA, BUT I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE'LL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. I KNOW YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE ISSUE FOR YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. BENJAMIN BROADWAY. BENJAMIN BROADWAY. BENJAMIN BROADWAY. NEXT SPEAKER. GLENDA GARCIA. GLENDA GARCIA. GLENDA GARCIA. NEXT SPEAKER. EVELYN KEELING. EVELYN KEELING. EVELYN. I'M HERE. I HAVE SOME HAND DOWN, BUT I JUST, OKAY. WE CAN, WE CAN GET THOSE. AND IT'S VERY SIMPLE AND I GAVE HIM MY NOTES, BUT THAT'S OKAY. UM, MAYOR PROTI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXPLAINING 3 1 1, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SO FRUSTRATED. I'VE WAITED ABOUT THREE HOURS TODAY, BUT I'VE WAITED TWO YEARS BECAUSE I WOULD CALL 3 1 1, THEY WOULD SEND ME AN EMAIL, THEY'D SEND ME A CASE. AND THEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, THEY HAD SENT ME ANOTHER EMAIL THAT SAYS, CASE CLOSED. AND I'M LIKE, OH, THIS IS GREAT. THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO AND I'VE HAD MULTIPLE, UM, EMAILS BACK AND FORTH TO THEM. SO MY SITUATION IS VERY SIMPLE. IT'S JUST MISSING TRAFFIC MARKINGS. AND ALL OF THESE BARS ON WASHINGTON, I'M SURE TRAVELED DOWN SHEPHERD AT THE SHEPHERD CURVE. AND THAT IS MY, UM, MY ISSUE. AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE THAT I COULD TALK TO FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS ABOUT THIS SITUATION. 'CAUSE I WOULD, UM, EMAIL AND THEN THEY WOULD CLOSE THE CASE. AND SO BASICALLY ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS SOME TYPE OF TRAFFIC MARKINGS. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE AT GEORGETOWN NOT THAT LONG AGO, AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED BECAUSE THEY HAD THE YELLOW DIVIDED LINES IN THE STREET, AND THEN THEY ALSO HAD LIKE A RUMBLE. SO IF YOU WENT OVER THAT, YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SO IT'S VERY SIMPLE. I HAVE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS, NOT TOO MANY. I DIDN'T WANNA BORE ANYONE. AND I, THAT'S BASICALLY IT. SO I JUST APPRECIATE EVERYONE HERE. I APPRECIATE SEEING FACES. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, UM, SHE HAS HELPED ME WITH THE WATER ISSUE IN THE PAST. ACTUALLY, I HAD A $2,500 WATER BILL . SO, UM, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN DOES WANT TO ADDRESS YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NO, MS. KEELING, THANK YOU. WHERE SHE'S TALKING ABOUT IF ANYONE'S BEEN TO BACKSTREET CAFE, IF ANYONE'S BEEN FARTHER UP HEADING TOWARDS WEST GRAY, ALL THAT THERE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ON TWO-WAY TRAFFIC, ALL THOSE MARKINGS ARE GONE. UH, I DRIVE IT TO THE BARNES AND NOBLE THERE WITH MY 3-YEAR-OLD, AND IT, IT'S NOT SAFE. UH, I KNOW THAT MS. KEELING, YOU EMAILED THE DEPARTMENT AND US LAST YEAR IN APRIL, AND WE HAD FOLLOWED UP WITH THE DEPARTMENT. THEY SAID THEY WOULD KEEP US IN THE LOOP. AND I APOLOGIZE THAT WE DID NOT KEEP PUSHING IT. WE HAD ASSUMED IT HAD BEEN ADDRESSED. UM, BUT [02:15:01] THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE. I DID MEET WITH, I DID MEET WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS YESTERDAY IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL, UH, WITH, TO RAISE THIS ISSUE AMONG SEVERAL OTHERS. I, YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE STRIPING MACHINES, AND I DIDN'T EVER THINK AS A COUNCIL WE'D HAVE TO TALK TO GET ONE STRIPING MACHINE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, AND SO THAT THIS IS STILL A BACKLOGGED AND NOT ADDRESSED IS A BIG CONCERN. AND I APPRECIATE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT RUMBLE STRIPE AS WELL. SO WE WILL FOLLOW UP. YOU HAVE MY WORD. UM, AND KEEP PUSHING AND FINDING OUT WHERE IN QUEUE. THIS IS PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE RAMIREZ. YES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MA'AM. AND, UH, THE LANE STRIPING, UH, IS A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE CITY. I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT OTHER MAJOR ROADWAYS, AND YOU ARE RIGHT. UH, THE CITY NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF LANE STRIPING AND ONE, UH, MACHINE IS NOT ENOUGH. WE, WE NEED TO DO BETTER ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE AND DRAWING ATTENTION TO THIS. LET ME ALSO SAY YOU, UH, STARTED OFF TALKING ABOUT 3 1 1. UH, THAT WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF TOMORROW'S SERVICE DELIVERY COMMITTEE MEETING. THAT'S A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE. IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT, IT'LL BE, UH, YOU CAN WATCH IT ONLINE AT, AT 2:00 PM TOMORROW. AND, UH, THERE'LL BE A PRESENTATION, UH, THAT YOU CAN ACCESS A SLIDE DECK THAT WILL, UH, TALK ABOUT THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM AS WELL. AND YOU CAN FIND THAT ON THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE'S PAGE. BUT THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. BYE-BYE. NEXT SPEAKER KAYRA ELDRIDGE KAYRA ELDRIDGE THREE, FOLLOWED BY DRT LANE. THIS LADY GARCIA GARCIA. EXCUSE GLENDA GARCIA? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. WE CALLED YOU MS. GARCIA. GO AHEAD AND COME ON TO THE MICROPHONE. YES, MA'AM. UH, HELLO. UH, LET ME JUST SEE, IS THE MAYOR HERE? NO, HE'S NOT HERE TODAY. OH, HE'S NOT. OH, OKAY. I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA BE PRESENT. HE, HE'S NOT HERE TODAY. OH, OKAY. BUT GO AHEAD. WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY SHARE YOUR MESSAGE WITH HIM. OKAY. WELL, UM, I HAVE AN EXTRA COPY, UM, FOR SOMEONE TO FOLLOW UP AND BASICALLY SOME DOCUMENTS TO DO SOME RESEARCH IN TERMS OF, UM, EVIDENCE IN WHAT I'M SPEAKING OF. OKAY. UM, THERE'S A PROBLEM. I STAY IN WILMINGTON IN THE FIVE ONE ZIP CODE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, GANG VIOLENCE GOING ON, BUT MY FAMILY, PARTICULARLY HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO OPPRESSION BY, UH, UH, RUTHLESS, A RUTHLESS INDIVIDUAL. SHE STAYS ON ASHEVILLE. SHE'S DRIPPING WITH HATE FOR ME, FOR ME. AND THAT IN TURN, MY FAMILY HAS HAD REPERCUSSIONS FROM THAT. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN HELD A HOSTAGE BY A BRUTAL PREACHER THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE POST I MADE FOR HIM, BUT I DID GO TO SHOW DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE FROM THE FACILITY OF CITY OF HOUSTON? UH, SEWER PLANT ON CULLEN? NO, BUT YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SHARE YOUR MESSAGE, YOUR COUNSEL. I'M SHARE I'M SHARING MY MESSAGE. YOUR, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS YOU AND WE'LL DEFINITELY SHARE WITH YOU. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I HAD CALLED YOU AND I TRIED TO GET INFORMATION BEFOREHAND AND THEY SAID THEY WERE, HAVE PEOPLE PRESENT. NO, BUT RENEE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT ISSUE. HUH? RENEE CAN HELP YOU. OH, OKAY. SO, ANYHOW, UH, ON 10 TO, LIKE I SAID, MY DAUGHTER, WHO, UM, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE CONVERSATION WITH HER OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS FORCED HERSELF IN HER HOUSE, SHE HAD DATING AND SHE HAD BROKE UP WITH HIM. BUT NOW HE'S A RESIDENCE BY FORCE. HE STATED TO ME WHEN I WENT OVER THERE ONE TIME, EVEN BEFORE THAT, EVEN BEFORE THAT, UH, THERE WAS ROCKET GANG. AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS WELL. MM-HMM . AND THIS, UM, MS. JONES ON ASHEVILLE. I STAY IN WILMINGTON. SO YOU CAN'T MISS YOUR HOUSE. MY, THE STREET RUNS RIGHT INTO A HOUSE, SO THERE'S NO MISTAKE. UH, SHE'S THE WIFE OF A DECEASED MINISTER, REVEREND JONES, NOT THE FIRST WIFE, MAYBE THE SECOND OR THIRD, BUT ANYHOW, SHE WAS A HULA EVEN BEFORE SHE GOT INTO THAT CHURCH. OKAY. SO, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT, UM, THAT ARREST BY OFFICER TRACY GOOD. MM-HMM . WAS THE ILLEGAL ARREST. HE DIDN'T DO ANY INVESTIGATION. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN KEPT AWAY FROM THE FAMILY AND EVERYTHING. THEY PRESENT HER AND SEE, ALREADY KNOW HOW THIS BEEN GOING ON FOR [02:20:01] YEARS. MS. JONES AS HER POLICE, SOME ON SPEED DIAL. OKAY. THEN SHE GETS MY FAMILY AND USES THEM AS A PAWN BECAUSE SHE SUPPRESSED THEM. AND NOT ONLY THAT, IT'S EXTORTED, EXTORTED THEM AS WELL. THREE MINUTES UP. YES. OKAY. BUT LISTEN, LET ME, LEMME TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. 'CAUSE WE WANT, SO WE DIDN'T GET NOTHING ACCOMPLISHED. HOLD, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. YES. YOU, YOU, YOU'VE EXPRESSED PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. WHAT HEARD. BUT OFFICER, I'M, I'M SORRY, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD? I, I'VE HEARD THAT YOU'VE GOT A COMPLICATED SITUATION THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE HERE AT THE DE, BUT WHAT I DO WANT YOU TO DO IS TALK TO RENEE AND SERGEANT CARR BECAUSE HE'S WITH HPD AND LET HIM TRY TO HELP YOU WITH THE ISSUE THAT YOU, YOU ARE BRINGING FORTH TO THE CITY. SO WE DO HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT CAN GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DEPTH, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, AND I, AND WE CAN DEFINITELY SHARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE MAYOR. SO, UM, PLUS I WAS TOLD HE WAS GONNA BE HERE AT THIS MEETING. WHO, WHO'S GONNA BE HERE? TELL ME WHO THEY, THE MAYOR AND THEY SAID 16, 16 BOARD MEMBERS PLUS THE MAYOR. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS. 16 COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR PLUS THE MAYOR RIGHT'S. ONLY ONE MAYOR. RIGHT. NOT THE MAYOR OF SUNSET, BUT THEY WAS SPEAKING OF THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON, RIGHT? RIGHT. MAYOR WHITMEYER. HE'S OUT OF TOWN ON CITY BUSINESS. OKAY. THAT'S, BUT WE WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THE MESSAGE WITH HIM AND WE DO HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT CAN HELP YOU IN HIS ABSENCE. YES, MA'AM. WELL, EVERYTHING WAS TRIED TO, UM, BE DONE. PREVENT ME COMING TO THIS WEEK, MS. JONES, AS USUAL, TRY TO, UH, GET MY FAMILY, UM, TO GET ME ADMITTED INTO MENTAL HOSPITAL ONCE AGAIN. BUT, UH, I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP WITH THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, TRACY GOODEN. MM-HMM . IM GONNA, UM, WHAT HPD AND, UH, RENEE CAN, CAN HELP YOU. OKAY. BEST WISHES TO YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, KAYRA ELDRIDGE TO BE FOLLOWED BY DR. JET LANE. HELLO, MS. ELDRIDGE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO, TIM AND HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KANDRA ELDRIDGE. I LIVE IN GLENBROOK VALLEY, WHICH IS IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT. I, I'M HERE TO RESPOND TO GLENBROOK VALLEY 2 7 0 1 0 2 0 PUBLIC WORKS PROPOSAL. THIS IS A PROPOSAL FOR ADDING SPEED CUSHIONS IN GLENBROOK VALLEY. TWO, WE DON'T WANT THEM. THE SPEED CUSHIONS THAT EXIST ALREADY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD CAUSE THE STREETS TO FLOOD AND WATER TO POOL EACH TIME IT RAINS. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRAINAGE REMEDIATION HAS BEEN LACKING IN MY AREA. AND INSTALLING SPEED CUSHIONS ON RAGGED STREETS WITHOUT IT WOULD ONLY BE CON COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE STREETS THAT HAVE HAD SPEED CUSHIONS INSTALLED, AND AS A RESULT, MANY OF THE HOMES ON THOSE STREETS HAVE FLOODED, SPECIFICALLY IN HARVEY AND IN SUBSEQUENT FLOODS, I BELIEVE TAX DAY MAYDAY, ET CETERA. THE STREET THAT I LIVE ON DOVER STREET DOES NOT NEED SPEED CUSHIONS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT FLOOD. IT HAS NOT FLOODED SINCE. ALLISON RITA, IKE HARVEY TAX DAY FLOOD MAYDAY FLOOD BARREL. IT DOESN'T FLOOD. WHY WOULD YOU ADD SPEED CUSHIONS TO A STREET THAT DOES NOT FLOOD EXCEPT TO FLOOD IT? I DON'T KNOW WHO'S MAKING THIS DECISION. I'VE HEARD DURING THIS MEETING ABOUT ALL OF THE FINANCIAL ISSUES, THE, UH, SHORTFALLS AND BUDGETARY CONCERNS. WHY ARE WE WASTING MONEY ON SPEED CUSHIONS THAT NO ONE ASKED FOR? WHAT IS NECESSARY IN GLENBURG VALLEY, TOO IS DRAIN REMEDIATION. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT ALL OF THE STREETS THAT USED TO BE CREEKS THAT WENT TO SIMS BAYOU BEFORE IT WAS DUG OUT AND CONCRETED OVER, HAVE HAD SPEED CUSHIONS INSTALLED. THESE SPEEDS ARE, THESE STREETS ARE FILLED WITH POTHOLE, POTHOLES, THEY'RE FALLING IN, AND ALL THE SIDEWALKS IN GLENBROOK VALLEY HAVE BEEN UNDERMINED. IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING TO ME TO GET A NOTICE WITH A COMMENT PERIOD THAT ENDS ON FEBRUARY 7TH. THE MAIL WAS RECEIVED ON FEBRUARY 5TH, THAT MEANS IT WASN'T MAILED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2ND. THEN WHEN I GO TO THE COMMENT WEBSITE, THE FORM WILL NOT ACCEPT MORE THAN 154 CHARACTERS. THIS MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT COMMENT IS NOT REALLY REQUESTED, UH, BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. [02:25:01] EVERY TIME OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GETS SOME KIND OF WORK. IT DOES NOT, IT CANNOT BE MAINTAINED. THE LAST WORK THAT YOU GUYS DID IN OUR AREA WAS DRAINAGE WORK ON BROADWAY AND MONROE. BOTH OF THEM HAVE SINKING HOLES, POTHOLE, SUBSIDENCE, AND THEY FLOOD. PLEASE DO NOT, PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANY ADDITIONAL SPEED CUSHIONS IN GLENBROOK VALLEY. TWO. THAT'S WHAT I ASK OF YOU TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROAM. UH, MS. ELDRIDGE, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MM-HMM . UM, I'M ACTUALLY ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS. I LIVE ON THE SOUTHEAST SECTOR, SO YOU'RE ON THE SOUTHWEST SECTOR OF GLENBROOK VALLEY. MM-HMM . SO I'M SUPER FAMILIAR ABOUT, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. MM-HMM . JUST AS A, SOME BACKGROUND, UH, WE DON'T EVER SAY, HEY, WE WANT SPEED CUSHIONS HERE AND JUST PUT 'EM, THESE ARE ALL CITIZEN, UH, DRIVEN APPLICATIONS. UH, SO SOMEONE IN YOUR, YOUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ON THE SOUTHWEST SEC SEC SECTION OF, UH, GLENBROOK VALLEY REQUESTED THEM, AND THEY HAVE PROBABLY BEEN AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, UH, THAT THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED. UM, SO WE, WE, THERE HAS BEEN A COMMON PERIOD, IF YOU DON'T MIND, MS. ELDRIDGE, LET ME, UM, WE CAN SPEAK OUTSIDE FOR A BIT OR I, YOU KNOW, AND, AND AS WELL, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT MY TEAM GETS, GETS, UH, SHARES WITH YOU WHAT THE RESULTS WERE FROM THE SURVEY. SO MM-HMM . THERE'S A, THERE IS A COMMON PERIOD, AND I'LL BE QUITE FRANK, IF IT'S, UH, MORE THAT DO NOT WANT IT, THAT WANT IT, THEN WE DON'T DO IT. OKAY. BUT IF THERE'S ENOUGH FOLKS THAT WANT IT, THE MAJORITY WANT IT, THEN WE DO WORK ON TRYING TO GET IT ADDRESSED. IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC SPEED CUSHION THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO BE, THAT YOU THINK MIGHT NOT BE NEEDED AROUND YOUR HOMES, THEN I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THAT, THAT CONVERSATION. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO SPEAK WITH YOU. HOWEVER, UH, THE STREET THAT I LIVE ON, DOVER MM-HMM . DILLON, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA MM-HMM . THESE ARE THE ONLY STREETS THAT DON'T FLOOD WHEN IT RAINS. WINDLEY FLOODS, MORALLY FLOODS, UH, WILMER DEAN CATON, THEY FLOOD WILMER DEAN HAD MULTIPLE HOMES THAT HAD COMPLETE LOSS AFTER HARVEY. THEY HAVE SPEED CUSHIONS. AND EVERYWHERE I DRIVE IN THIS CITY WHERE THE SPEED CUSHIONS ARE, YOU CAN SEE THE WATER POOLING ON THE SIDE AND THE, AND THE UNDERMINING OF THE, OF THE, UH, SIDEWALK. IF THIS WAS A REQUEST FROM FIVE YEARS AGO, THAT'S VERY ODD. 'CAUSE THAT WAS AFTER HARVEY. IT'S VERY CONFUSING TO ME, AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU MORE ABOUT IT. YEAH, I WILL. I'LL STEP OUT WITH YOU, MS. ELDRIDGE. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ETTE LANE. ETTE LANE. NEXT SPEAKER. BRIAN NELSON. BRIAN NELSON. ARE YOU BRIAN NELSON? YES. BE FOLLOWED BY NIKIA SIMS. OKAY. GO AHEAD. BEHIND THIS MICROPHONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, YES. MY NAME IS, UH, DR. UH, RYAN EDWARD NELSON. UM, SOMETIME AGO, UH, WITH, UH, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, I WAS, UM, ABLE TO, UH, SECURE ALSO A, UH, ANOTHER FORM OF EMPLOYMENT, UH, WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, THIS TIME AS THE, UH, COMPTROLLER, UH, THE, UM, THE TAX COLLECTOR, UM, FOR THE, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, AT THE TIME, UM, THERE WERE, UH, SEVERAL THINGS, UH, GOING ON. I ALSO, UM, TOOK ON A POSITION AS A, UM, ALSO THE, UH, PRESIDENT OF, UH, FROST BANK, UM, AROUND THE CORNER, UH, WELL ANYHOW, UM, DUE TO, UM, DEVICES, UH, SOMETHING CALLED DEVICES. UH, IF YOU HAVE ANYONE HERE WITH A, UH, LEGAL BACKGROUND, I WAS UNABLE, UH, FOR ANOTHER EIGHT YEARS, UH, TO, UH, RECEIVE, UM, ANY, UH, FORM OF, UH, TRANSACTION OR COMPENSATION, UH, ELECTRONIC, UH, SAY CREDIT CARD. UH, AND, UH, NOW THAT TIME HAS, UH, PASSED. I WAS, UM, OUT OF, UM, STATE AND OUT OF COUNTRY AS AN, AS AN ATHLETE, UH, FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. I WAS, UH, PLAYING BALLS IN THE OLYMPICS. AND, UH, UPON RETURNING, UM, THE PARK, UM, THE, UM, THE, UH, THE PARK OVER THERE BY THE, UM, THE STAR HOPE, THE, UM, HOMELESS SHELTER. I HAD BEEN DOING SOME WORK, UM, SOME BIOLOGY WORK, UH, THERE, UM, COALESCING, UH, WITH THE, UH, THE POWER GRID, UM, SITUATION, THE NUCLEAR PHYSICS. I'M A, I'M ALSO A NUCLEAR PHYSICIST, UH, WITH THE, UM, HARRIS COUNTY, UH, PRECINCT, UH, JAIL. IT WAS, UH, SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE, UH, THE ENERGY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WATERWAYS. UH, BUT NONETHELESS, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WASN'T FEELING, FEELING WELL FOR A LITTLE WHILE. AND, UH, NOW THAT WE HAVE A NEW MAYOR, I AM, UM, UH, NOW RETURNING, UH, ATTEMPTING TO, UH, RECEIVE MY COMPENSATION, UH, AMERICAN EXPRESS, UH, BLACK CARD, I BELIEVE IS, UH, HOW I WAS PAID. UH, BUT WITH IT BEING A NEW MAYOR AND EVERYTHING, I'M, I'M JUST, UH, ATTEMPTING TO TOUCH BASE OR SEE, UH, IF I COULD, UM, UM, PERHAPS, UM, GET A, UH, CONTACT PERSON, UH, THAT I CAN SPEAK WITH, [02:30:01] UH, SO THAT WE CAN, UM, UH, EXPEDITE, UH, THAT PROCESS. I, UH, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS, UH, NOW BEING, UM, AS OF, UH, 17, 18 YEARS, UH, THE SENATOR OF TEXAS, I AM, UH, MAYOR OF, UH, BEL AIR, AS WELL AS, UH, WOODLANDS, UH, CHIEF OF POLICE, MISSOURI CITY. I AM. UM, SO I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO, UH, SPEAK, UH, HARVARD GRADUATE, OF COURSE, UH, MAGNA KANI, DEAN OF HARVARD, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, MEN CU LAUDE, UM, TWO YEARS, UM, UH, SUCCESSION, UH, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS, UM, NOW RACE UNIVERSITY. SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, UH, SPEAK WITH SOMEONE BECAUSE THE, UH, THE PLACE, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M A LITTLE TWISTED OF, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, UH, THE PLACE THAT I, I WOULD GO TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE, UM, UH, FOR THAT TO OCCUR. UH, THE OFFICE IS NO LONGER THERE, SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHO IT IS THAT I WOULD, UM, BE, UH, GETTING IN CONTACT WITH TO, UM, BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BEING ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, GOT ME SLEEPING ON THE BRIDGE. SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT. UM, DO, DO YOU KNOW IF SERGEANT CARR'S GONNA COME BACK? HE'S STILL WITH, HE'S WITH SOMEONE ELSE. CAN YOU TAKE HIM OVER, UM, SO THAT, UH, HE CAN GET HIS INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS HE'S ASKING FOR THAT I, I DON'T THINK AS THIS BODY WE'D BE ABLE TO, UM, ADDRESS IN PUBLIC. SO HAVE HIM, HAVE HIM SPEAK WITH, UH, SERGEANT CARR. WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY TALK TO YOU. TRY TO WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES. SIR, SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS WELL AS, UH, ALL INSTALLATIONS OF, UH, CAPITAL, UH, SINCE THE, UH, THE LAST, UH, INCURSION RIGHT. HAVE BEEN, UH, UH, ARE NOW, CAN NOW BE, UH, REPLACED AND, UH, SO THERE WON'T BE ANY PROBLEMS, UH, FISCAL, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OKAY. RIGHT NOW WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT 86%, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE FOUR YEARS OF OUR BUDGET AVAILABLE. YES. YES. MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND ALL BANKRUPT LESS THAN 4%. OKAY. AND ALL FUNDS HAVE BEEN, UM, HAVE BEEN, UH, RECEIVED IN TEXAS FOR THIS YEAR'S. WELL, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT FOR YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, NIKIA SIMS. NIKIA SIMS. NIKIA SIMS, NIKIA. SIMS STAR, PPS. STAR PPS. STAR PPS. ROLAND CURRY. ROLAND CURRY. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH MONTGOMERY. SARAH MONTGOMERY. NEXT SPEAKER PRESLEY GI GILES. HELLO, MR. GILES. I'M READY. LET'S GO. BE FOLLOWED BY TI KOPECKI. HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? DOING WELL, THANK YOU. GOOD. MY NAME IS PRESLEY GILES. UM, I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY, OUR NON-PROFIT TO YOU, AND I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES, AND SO I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO GET THROUGH THIS AS WELL AS I CAN. SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ IT. MY NAME IS PRESLEY GILES, JR. I AM THE FOUNDER AND THE CEO OF PRIORITY VALUE INVESTMENTS, OUR PV FOR U.ORG TV, WE'VE RECEIVED OUR 5 0 1 C3 ON JUNE 10TH, 2020, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EPIDEMIC. OUR OVERALL OBJECTIVE IS TO BRING, UM, UH, HOUSTON COMMUNITY, COMMUNITIES AND NON AND NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER THROUGH THE ARTS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND TELEVISION OPEN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS. IN DEVELOPING THIS, THIS, UH, PROGRAM, THE, THE CITY CITYWIDE PROGRAM, I REALIZED THAT, UH, WE NEEDED TO ESTABLISH A STRONG, SOLID FOUNDATION. A FOUNDATION BASED ON OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES. THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CITIZENS, ALL CITIZENS, ALL COMMUNITIES, ALL NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL RACES, ALL NATIONALITIES, ALL SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, ALL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STANDINGS. UM, WE DO NOT CARE IF YOU, YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, MEGA, BLACK LIVES MATTER, OR, UM, OR ANY OF THE ABOVE. WE ARE NOT ABOUT YOUR POLITICAL STANDINGS. UM, WE DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE CATHOLIC, BAPTIST, METHODIST, MUSLIM, JEWISH AGNOSTIC, OR . YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS BELONG TO YOU. WE ARE NOT ABOUT RELIGION. WE DON'T CARE IF YOU GAY, STRAIGHT, LESBIAN, DRAG, TRANSGENDER, THE PRO. UH, OUR PROGRAM IS NOT HERE TO LIMIT YOU AS A PERSON. THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU BRING TO THIS COUNTRY, THE CULTURES YOU BRING TO THIS COUNTRY, THIS, THIS, UM, TO THIS CITY, SHOULD NOT LIMIT YOUR VOICE. ALL WE, UH, ALL WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS BE YOURSELF. BIAS, DISCRIMINATION, BULLYING, AND ALL [02:35:01] OF THE, UH, OF ANY KIND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. ALL WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS BE YOURSELF. UM, THE PROJECT WELL CAN ONLY WORK IF EVERYONE PARTICIPATES. AND KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU'RE, UH, KEEP, KEEP AN OPEN MIND TO YOUR NEIGHBOR'S, UH, POINT OF VIEW AND YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HUMANITY. AND THAT IS OUR FOUNDATION. HUMANITY IS OUR FOUNDATION. MAYOR, PRO TEAM, UM, UM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMUNITY, UM, COMMUNITY, NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, CITY. I'M OPEN. I'M OVER. OKAY. , IS THAT IT? GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. OKAY. I DIDN'T QUITE GET THROUGH IT. OKAY. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. WE'RE DEVELOPING A TELEVISION CHANNEL, UM, HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO START OUT WITH THE ARTS, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A, A, A VOICE. EVERY CITY, EVERY COMMUNITY, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S OUR OBJECTIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ALCO. THANK YOU, MR. GILES. I APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE AND, AND TRYING TO BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AND PROMOTE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD ABOUT HOUSTON, WHICH IS ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, UHHUH, . AND, UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO GET YOUR CARD AND FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ABOUT HOW SPECIFICALLY THE CITY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU MOVE YOUR, UM, MOVE YOUR PROJECT FORWARD. WELL, THANK YOU, MA'AM. I APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU COULD DO. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT MISSION AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE ANY KIND OF, ANY KIND OF HELP THAT WE CAN GET. WE ESPECIALLY NEED HELP FROM NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, THE, I THINK YOU HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE, RIGHT? UH, HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WELL, WE USED TO, IT'S NOW, YES, KIND OF. I'D REALLY LOVE TO SPEAK WITH THEM. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, MR. UH, TED NEWING, THE PERSON TED IRVING. YES. YEAH, TED IRVING AT AT HT. HE'S BEEN WONDERFUL. YEAH, I WAS GONNA' VERY CONNECT YOU WITH HIM TOO. BUT I'LL, I'LL GET YOUR CARD. AND, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND FOR WAITING SO LONG TO SPEAK. I APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER ATE KOPECKI. ATE KOPECKI. NEXT SPEAKER, GERALD NEY. FLUNEY, THE SECOND, GERALD FLUNEY II. NEXT SPEAKER, STEVE WILLIAMS. STEVE WILLIAMS. NEXT SPEAKER ILI MONTOYA. REVIS ILI MONTOYA. REVIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MYRA ROBERTSON. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, MAJOR . UM, MOST RECENTLY I WAS CONTACTED BY UNITED, UH, THE UNION, UH, BASICALLY WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM AT THE AIRPORT WITH ONE OF MY EX-BOYFRIENDS. UH, HE PUT ME, WHEN WE WERE DATING, JOEL TORRES PUT ME HIS FLIGHT BENEFITS. UH, APPARENTLY THE UNION IS INVOLVED, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE IT UNLESS, UH, TAHE JACKSON GETS INVOLVED. AFTER FEMA, I CAME BACK INTO AAS, I BUMP INTO TORRE, AND BASICALLY THEY SAID THAT THE SITUATION IS TO A POINT THAT, UM, I CANNOT GIVE HIM, WHAT IS IT CALLED? CHILD SUPPORT, BECAUSE I WASN'T A WIFE. I WAS, UH, HE WAS GOING THROUGH DIVORCE. I WAS A MISTRESS. UH, HE HAD ME TO HIS BENEFIT, HE DECIDED TO GO TO HIS SITUATION. SO BASICALLY, UH, THEY SAID THAT THE SITUATION IS THAT APPARENTLY HE PUT US IN HIS BENEFITS, THE WIFE AND ME, AND THEN THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WAS WORKING ANOTHER SYSTEM. IT WAS ME. I WAS WORKING FOR G TWO. AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN SETTLE THIS IS IN THE COURT. I CAN FILE THE PAPERWORK IN THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT. THEY ALREADY TOLD ME WHAT IS THE SITUATION. I'M WILLING TO COOPERATE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. CURRENTLY, I HAVE TEMPORARY HOUSING AT MOST REQUESTING MY MOTHER, WE HAVE A HEARING COMING UP NEXT MONTH FOR HER TO, UH, GIVE ME ALL MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS, MY ADDRESSES. WHEN I ATTEND THE PUBLIC SESSION, I HAVE THE RECEIPTS. THE MONEY CAME NOT FROM NO SUGAR DADDY, IT CAME FROM MY BANK ACCOUNT. MY MONEY, MY TAXES ARE CURRENT. AND I'M SIMPLY ASKING FOR, UM, HALF OF THE GARAGE. THAT IS MY BOX, IS MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS TO GIVE BACK TO ME BECAUSE THE, THAT'S WHAT I PURCHASED WITH MY OWN MONEY. I WAS WORKING A LOT. AND THAT'S HOW I'M, UH, I'M REQUESTING, UH, THEY RETALIATED, THEY SHUT DOWN MY CELL PHONES. UH, CURRENTLY I LIVE IN, UH, UH, I HAVE, UM, I'M LIVING IN A COMMUNITY CALLED VILLAGE. IT'S TEMPORARY, BUT I'M NOT STAYING WITH MY, UH, WITH MY MOTHER. I DO HAVE A CELL PHONE. I'M NOT HOMELESS. I'M OKAY. I SIMPLY DIDN'T WANNA COMMUNICATE BECAUSE I'M SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED THAT PEOPLE [02:40:01] COME TO ME. I NEVER WORKED FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I NEVER WAS, UH, UM, IN ASSISTANCE TO ANY OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THEY DRAGGED ME HERE BECAUSE SUPPOSEDLY SYLVESTER TURNER STATED AT THE TIME THAT I NEEDED TO PAY WITH VOLUNTEERING. AND I SAY YES, BUT THAT DOESN'T GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TO, UH, KEEP MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I PAY FOR. SO SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE OTHER OPTION, I DECIDED TO SIMPLY FILE A CASE AGAINST MY MOTHER, HER, UH, HUSBAND, ROSS LEY. SO WE CAN SETTLE THIS IN COURT. I HAVE A COURT DATE COMING UP. I'M COOPERING AND EVERYTHING IS PACKED. I'M NOT WILLING TO LEAVE. UH, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED TO ANOTHER STATE WHEN THINGS GET, UH, SETTLED. RIGHT. SO THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING YOU'RE DEFINITELY GONNA HAVE TO TAKE TO THE COURTS. IT'S CIVIL, IT'S A CIVIL SITUATION. I ALREADY CALL UTAH, HAVE FRIENDS IN UNITED STATES. I WANTED TO RELOCATE. NO, NO. WE GET IT. I'M MISERABLE. HERE. WE GET IT. UM, IF YOU'VE ALREADY FILED A CASE, I THINK YOU SHOULD FOLLOW UP WITH THE COURTS. THERE'S THIS, WE DON'T HAVE THE JURISDICTION TO HANDLE THAT HERE AT, AT CITY COUNCIL LEVEL, SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU FOLLOW UP WITH THE COURTS. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN WITH MRS. DARCY JACKSON. I'M HERE TODAY. I'M TRYING TO COMMUNICATE, UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN, WE, WHY DON'T I TELL HER TO GIVE YOU A CALL. WE HAVE YOUR NUMBER HERE. I'LL HAVE MS. JACKSON GIVE YOU A CALL. AND WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH MR. JOHN WIMAR? I'M NOT EMPLOYED BY HIM. I WAS EMPLOYED WITH HIS CAMPAIGN, MA'AM. WHO? UH, WITH JOHN WIMAR. OH, THE MAYOR'S NOT HERE TODAY. I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH HIM. WE WILL HAVE HIM GIVE YOU A CALL AS WELL. YEAH, I GET PAID, UH, FROM CALIFORNIA. I'M NOT GETTING A PENNY FROM TEXAS HAVING IN A YEAR. THANK YOU. SO THAT'S MY STATEMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. MYRA ROBINSON. MYRA ROBINSON. ROBERTSON. NEXT SPEAKER. CARLOS LOPEZ. CARLOS LOPEZ. NEXT SPEAKER. JOSHUA BULLARD. JOSHUA BULLARD. NEXT SPEAKER, ANDREW PATTERSON. ANDREW PATTERSON. HELLO, MR. PATTERSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN ROBERT. HELLO MO, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMP AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHILE LISTENING TO UP HERE, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. UH, I WISH I COULD SIMPLY SAY THAT THERE WERE SOME THINGS HERE THAT WERE ADDRESSED, BUT, BUT MORE BENEFICIAL. UM, LEMME START OFF JUST SIMPLY SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CITY IS FACING SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS GARBAGE THAT'S BEING PERPETRATED TO WASHINGTON, DC SAYING THAT THE CITIZENS THAT ARE BEING EMPLOYEES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT THEY'RE SOMEHOW LACKLUSTER, NOT WILLING TO WORK. THAT THERE'S, UH, CONTRACTS, PEOPLE ARE STEALING LEFT AND RIGHT. I WANNA SAY THIS IS NOT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES. THEY'RE OVERWORKED. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE. SURE WE HAVE A FINANCIAL ISSUE AND PROBLEM. THERE ARE WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT. AND I HAVE IDEAS, OTHER IDEAS THAT WOULD HELP THAT. UH, UNFORTUNATELY MY EXPERIENCE HERE IS TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF THE MAYOR TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND SIT DOWN AND TALK TO 'EM. 'CAUSE I DON'T LIKE TO DO THAT IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND ADDRESS FINANCIAL ISSUES WITH THE MAYOR. BUT I THINK QUITE HONESTLY, IT'S EASIER FOR ME TO GET A MEETING WITH THE POPE THAN IT IS WITH THE MAYOR. AS FUNNY AS THAT SOUNDS. IT'S SAD, BUT TRUE. UH, THE OTHER ISSUE I WANTED TO JUST BRIEFLY ADDRESS OF THIS GENTLEMAN HERE WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS CHILD WAS BEING EXPOSED TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, DRUG ABUSE AND SO FORTH, AND THERE WAS A HALFWAY HOUSE. AND THE ADMINISTRATION, SHE FELT, HE FELT BECAUSE OF THE HPD AND THE CITY OWNER, ACTUALLY FOLKS, IT'S MUCH SIMPLER THAN THAT. IT'S THE PAROLE DEPARTMENT THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HALFWAY HOUSES. YOU CONTACT THE PERMIT DIVISION, FIND OUT WHO ACTUALLY IT HAS A PERMIT TO OPERATE A HALFWAY HOUSE. OKAY? THEY GOT PAROLE OFFICERS. A PAROLE OFFICER HAS TO SHOW UP AND SIT THERE AND SAY, YOU'RE DEALING DRUGS. YOU'RE GOING BACK INTO JAIL. THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AND THAT'S GONNA CLEAR IT UP. THE OTHER ISSUE YOU HAVE HERE SAYING, WELL, WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE WE HAVE BARS HERE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WELL, FINE, YOU PUT POLICE AS OFFICER, THAT'S GONNA LOWER THE, THE CONSUMPTION RATE TOO. AND IT'S LESS INCOME. BUT SURE, THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IS, IS TANTAMOUNT. IT'S S MORTON. BUT AGAIN, WE GET TO THE ISSUE ABOUT DO WE HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS TO ACTUALLY HANDLE THE ISSUE FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED OUT THERE? UH, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S LEAVING A BAR WHO'S DRUNK. AND QUITE HONESTLY, THERE USED TO BE A LARGE STATISTIC OR STATISTICAL CORRELATION BETWEEN VIOLENCE WITHIN ICE HOUSES. AND I'M WONDERING IF THE SAME THING HERE. I MEAN, ARE WE HAVING A PROBLEM HERE WITH, [02:45:01] IS IT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY? IS IT DRUNKENNESS A DUI? AND WE NEED TO GET SOME TYPE OF INFORMATION THERE SO THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN THEN ADDRESS IT. I THINK THE CITIZENS AND NEW PEOPLE HERE, CITY COUNCIL, WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME THING. UM, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I CAME UP HERE AND SPOKE, BUT AS I MENTIONED, UH, TO YOU, THERE ARE THINGS THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE TO HELP ALLEVIATE A FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT THEY'RE FACING. YOUR TIME HAS EXPRESSED. MR. BULLARD, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND SHARING YOUR IDEAS. UM, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL US THE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE. WE'D BE HAPPY TO READ 'EM. UM, REBECCA'S HERE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, IF YOU WANT TO GET, UH, THE MAYOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS AS WELL, THAT MAY BE AN AVENUE FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AS WELL. WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE NEVER HAD MUCH SUCCESS. IT'S DEALING WITH IT, WHETHER IT'S YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR STATE GOVERNMENT DEALING WITH EMAIL. IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET FILE 13, PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION. THAT'S JUST WHY I HERE, COME ON NOW, MISS A LITTLE BIT. I'M KIND OF CYNICAL. I'M SORRY. I AM, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. MAYOR PRO, I'M SORRY, MS. PASS, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU GAVE ME MORE THAN THREE MINUTES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. TAKE CARE. YES. NEXT SPEAKER. BENJAMIN ROBERT BENJAMIN WILD. NEXT SPEAKER ALFONSO SMITH, JR. ALFONSO SMITH, JR. NEXT SPEAKER, LINDSEY WILLIAMS. LINDSEY WILLIAMS. SHE FOLLOWED BY ED PETIT. I THOUGHT HE SPOKE ALREADY. HELLO? NORMALLY I COME TALK ABOUT TRAINS, BUT I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT TRAINS TODAY. WELL, NOT REALLY. UM, , THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS LINDSAY WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 64 AND 88 GREATER EASTWOOD, LAWNDALE AND WAYSIDE. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EXPRESS MY DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE PROCESS FOR THE GEORGIA BROWN CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT. WHILE I RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF AN EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER, HOW THIS PROGRESS HAS PROGRESSED RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, COMMUNITY INCLUSION, AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE. FIRST, THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS HAS BEEN WOEFULLY INADEQUATE. MANY RESIDENTS WHO WILL BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS EXPANSION WILL LEARN ABOUT CRITICAL DELAYS ONLY AFTER MAJOR DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND CLOSED. COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS WERE SCHEDULED WITH MINIMAL NOTICE HELD AT INCONVENIENT TIMES, AND OFTEN FELT LIKE PERFORMATIVE EXERCISES RATHER THAN GENUINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE. TRUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEANS INVOLVING RESIDENTS FROM THE BEGINNING, NOT MERELY INFORMING THEM OF DECISIONS AFTER THE FACT. SECOND, I MUST POINT OUT THE GLARING CONTRADICTION IN HOUSTON FIRST MESSAGING. THEY CLAIM THIS EXPANSION WILL IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY WITHIN OUR CITY, YET THEIR ACTUAL PLANS PHYSICALLY CUT OFF NEIGHBORHOODS AND CREATE NEW BARRIERS. HOW CAN YOU CLAIM TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ERECTING WALLS BETWEEN THEM? THIS DOUBLE SPEAK UNDERMINES ANY REMAINING TRUST IN THE PROCESS AND RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRUE PRIORITIES OF THIS PROJECT. THIRD, WE ARE BEING ASKED TO ACCEPT VAGUE PROMISES OF NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, BUT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO GUARANTEE THESE PROJECTS WILL EVER MATERIALIZE. WE'VE SEEN THIS PATTERN REPEATEDLY. PROJECTS LIKE THE APPROVED TELEPHONE ROAD IMPROVEMENT THEN PAUSE OVER OPINIONS ON SIDEWALKS. OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE LONG PAINFUL HISTORY OF PROMISED RESOURCES BEING REALLOCATED TO MORE FLUENT PARTS OF TOWN. WHEN BUDGETS TIGHTEN, WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT? THESE AREN'T MERELY CONCERNS. THESE ARE LIVED EXPERIENCES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. FOURTH, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT THERE ARE NO LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS EXPANSION FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. IF THIS PROJECT TRULY OFFERED THE BENEFITS CLAIMED AND FOLLOWED A PROPER PROCESS, WOULDN'T THERE BE VOCAL SUPPORTERS BEYOND THOSE WHO STAND TO PROFIT DIRECTLY? THE SILENCE FROM COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS SHOULD BE DEAFENING TO THIS COUNCIL. THIS IS NOT AN OPPOSITION TO PRO PROGRESS OR DEVELOPMENT. INSTEAD IS A CALL FOR PROCESS TO BE RESPECTS. COMMUNITY VOICES OPERATES WITH FULL TRANSPARENCY AND PRIORITIZES LONG-TERM COMMUNITY BENEFIT OVER EXPEDIENCY. I URGE THIS COUNSEL TO PAUSE THE CURRENT APPROVAL PROCESS AND IMPLEMENT AND ESTABLISH A CITIZEN HEAVY ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH GENUINE DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY, NOT SIMPLY FROM DOWNTOWN BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS COMMISSION AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS, SECURE BINDING COMMITMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS BEFORE APPROVING THE EXPANSION POST PUBLIC AND HEARINGS IN AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS AT ACCESSIBLE TIMES, PROVIDE COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OUT ONLINE AND PLETE AND SUFFICIENT TIME FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER THAN THE PROCESS WE'VE WITNESSED THUS FAR. I BELIEVE THIS COUNCIL HAS THE WISDOM AND INTEGRITY TO CORRECT COURSE BEFORE ITER REVERSIBLE DECISIONS ARE MADE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. UM, LINDSEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING YOUR FRUSTRATIONS. UM, THEY'VE BEEN HEARD OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS SINCE WE FOUND OUT WHEN THE JRC PROCESS WAS FIRST INITIATED. UM, I I DO WANT TO ALSO, UH, JUST THE EXPANSION AND THE STREET ABANDONMENT ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS, [02:50:01] CORRECT? I KNOW THEY, AND WITHOUT TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO IS IT POKE OPEN OR CLOSE? UM, THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. AND I THINK, UM, THE, WHERE THE CONVERSATION THAT, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN WITH THE STREET ABANDONMENT, UM, THAT WAS THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST TROUBLING THING FOR ME AS WELL. UM, WHEN I SPOKE TO THE MAYOR ABOUT IT, HE ALSO MADE COMMENTS OF COMMUNICATION NEEDS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT IN THAT SENSE, RIGHT? WITH THE GRC PROCESS. SO, UH, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MIXING THE TWO I AM FOR THE EXPANSION, IT'S GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UM, LARGELY RIGHT? NOT JUST, NOT JUST FOR THE EASTERN, BUT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SEPARATE THE TWO FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT THEN, UH, YOU BRING UP VALID CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, EMPTY PROMISES, RIGHT? UH, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN THE EAST END, WHETHER IT'S GRADE SEPARATION, WHETHER IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN DEFERRED. UM, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE PROBABLY BEEN PUSHED, PUSHED THROUGH THAT DIDN'T REALLY SEE, UH, A HUGE BENEFIT TO EVERYONE IN THE EAST END. AND SO I'M MAKING A COMMITMENT TO YOU ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTS AT EASTWOOD AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE WILL SEE SOME PROGRESS. UM, AND I, I HOPE THAT, UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE US TO BUILD THAT TRUST BACK. AND I HOPE THAT I CAN HELP, I CAN WORK ON BUILDING THAT TRUST BACK WITH YOU AND THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORS OUT IN THE EAST END AREA. YEAH, I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT THIS IS JUST THE LAST OF A LONG STRING OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FORCED ON US WITHOUT ANY RESIDENT, WITHOUT ANY SEAT AT THE TABLE. AND IT'S JUST BECOMING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THEY HURT US AND THEY DON'T HELP US. DEFINITELY NOTED. UM, 14 MONTHS, 13 AND A HALF MONTHS IN OFFICE. I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T WORK THAT WAY EITHER. UM, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO HOUSTON FIRST AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO COME TO THE COUNCIL. UH, I LOVE SEEING YOU HERE AND ADVOCATING FOR THE EAST END. UM, AND AGAIN, I'M, I'M GONNA WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE I CAN HELP BUILD THAT TRUST. WELL, I WILL GLADLY COME, BUT I ALSO, DESPITE WHAT PEOPLE MAY REALIZE, I DO HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB. SO I KNOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AND I KNOW THERE'S TWO MORE. IT'S DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO BE DOWN HERE, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST. NO THANK YOU LINDSAY. ED PETIT. ED. PETIT ED. ED PETIT. NEXT SPEAKER, RODNEY UNDERWOOD. RODNEY UNDERWOOD BE FOLLOWED BY JACOB CLEMENTE. I, UH, POLITAN AND PAPER. I WANT TO GET WITH THEM, LET 'EM KNOW THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO IN TOUCH WORKING WITH THE CITY, UH, PROVIDING, UH, SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED. AND, UH, WE DO HAVE OUR CERTIFICATIONS AND EVERYTHING'S NEEDED. I WANT TO GET A CHANCE TO MEET WITH YOU. UH, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IS TRYING TO DO THINGS WITH THE CITY. HOPEFULLY, UH, WE CAN DO SOMETHING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. OKAY? UH, IS THERE ANY TIME I CAN SET UP WITH YOU? YEAH, I'LL GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, UH, AFTER YOU SPEAK AND WE'LL COORDINATE THAT. THANK YOU. AND, UH, WITH THAT, UH, I WAS SAYING THAT, UH, ONCE WE GET, UH, SET UP OR WHATEVER, I, UH, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UM, ANYBODY THAT NEEDS ANY ASSISTANCE MAINTAINING THEIR PROPERTY, UH, THEIR, UH, THEIR AREAS THAT THEY REPRESENT, WE WANT BE, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE, AVAILABLE. THANK, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JACOB CLEMENTI. JACOB CLEMENTI, NEXT SPEAKER. TINA BRADY. TINA BRADY. THREE BE FOLLOWED BY SHERRY BUTLER. GOOD AFTERNOON, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S A SHAME THAT THE MAYOR'S NOT HERE, AND IT'S A SHAME WE HAVE SUCH A SPARSE CROWD BY THIS TIME IN THE AGENDA. MY NAME IS TINA BRADY. I'M A FELLOW HOUSTONIAN AND LIVE IN EASTWOOD. FIRST I'D LIKE TO ECHO STRONGLY WHAT LINDSAY SAID TO US BECAUSE SHE REALLY, SHE REALLY GAVE THE DETAILS ABOUT, ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO US AND ITS PROGRESSION OVER TIME. AND WE HAVE HAD A CITY COUNCIL THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, EVEN IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER. SO I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE EAST END COMMUNITY ASKS THAT YOU DENY THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET TODAY. POLK PROVIDES A CONTINUOUS ROUTE ALL THE WAY FROM WAYSIDE DRIVE, WAY OVER IN THE EAST END, ALL THE WAY INTO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. IT'S NOT JUST AN IDO OR AN EASTWOOD ISSUE. IT'S ALL THE WAY FROM WAYSIDE DRIVE NEARLY FIVE MILES ALL THE WAY INTO SMITH STREET TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. AND NO OTHER STREET DOES THAT. ABANDONING POLK WOULD ABANDON THE PEOPLE OF POLK. IT WOULD SHUT OUT THE PEOPLE FROM THE EAST END. THEY'RE TRYING TO TRAVEL DOWN TO, UM, THE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON BUSINESS, INCLUDING HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, THE, THE CONVENTION [02:55:01] CENTER, AND ALL THE OTHER DOWNTOWN COMMERCE THAT WE HAVE. IT WOULD SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS ON A PROJECT THAT WOULD HARM US ANOTHER ONE. AND YOUR, UH, YOUR CONSTITUENTS. CAN I HAVE ANOTHER 30 SECONDS? UM, NO FINAL DECISION SHOULD BE MADE. UM, AND NO WORK SHOULD PROCEED WITHOUT MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT OF THE EAST END COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THAT YOU VALUE OUR INPUT. WE KNOW YOU DO, AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF POLK ARE AGAINST THE CLOSING OF POLK. WE ASK THAT YOU SHARE THE RESULTS OF MOBILITY STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. SURELY THEY HAVE. WE ASK THAT YOU ACTIVELY ENGAGE US WITHIN THE DESIGN PROCESS BEFORE IT'S THRUST UPON US, WELL BEFORE, AND WE ASK THAT YOU DENY THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK. UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD, IF I MAY, A QUESTION WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COMMENTS THAT WE PHONE IN? WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE THINGS? AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE TRANSPORTATION SLASH STREET PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON. IS THERE ANY COORDINATION OF THOSE THINGS? AND IF SO, THERE MUST BE A PROGRAM MANAGER, I SUPPOSE, WHO DOES THAT. SO WHO DOES COORDINATE IT? BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT I HEAR SAYS ONE PROJECT DOES NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT'S DETAILS GOING ON IN ANOTHER. SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, AGAIN, UM, THE, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMENTS, UH, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT WE'VE EXTENDED THE COMMENT PERIOD TO APRIL 3RD, UM, WE WILL GET THOSE, I WILL BE GETTING THOSE AS WELL. SO WHERE I CAN, MY TEAM AND I CAN DIGEST 'EM AS WELL AND SHARE WITH HOUSTON FOR SHARE WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT USUALLY REVIEW THE JRC PROCESS, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO COORDINATION OF, UH, PROJECTS, UM, AT LEAST I CAN SPEAK TO DISTRICT. I, I KNOW WHERE THOSE PROJECTS ARE, WHETHER IT'S A TERRORIST PROJECT, A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT, A TEXTILE PROJECT. UM, AND SO, UM, IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME. UM, WE CAN TALK OFFLINE AS WELL. UH, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE IS A, IT'S A HUGE CITY AND DEFINITELY THERE, THERE IS, UM, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND SOME FOLKS MIGHT NOT KNOW ALL THE TIME, BUT I CAN REASSURE YOU THAT ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE EAST END, I'M FULLY AWARE. YEAH. AND CAN I, UM, CAN I SPEAK AGAIN? YES. SO I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE DON'T KNOW AND, AND I, AND I DON'T, IF I DON'T KNOW THE QUESTION TO ASK YOU, I WON'T, I WON'T ASK IT BECAUSE I WON'T KNOW TO ASK IT. SO WE COUNT ON YOU TO MAKE US AWARE OF THESE THINGS. SO THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T TAKE US BLINDSIDED 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN TAKEN BLINDSIDED FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND, UM, I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY A WHILE BACK, UM, FROM THIRD WARD. I THINK WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE WILL NO LONGER BE THE PAST OF PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE. WE WILL NO LONGER BE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE. UM, WE MAY OR MAY NOT ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY. NO, THANK YOU FOR KEEP ON AND KEEP ON TRYING. I, I WANT YOU TO, AND I ATTENDED LAST TWO WEEKS AGO, EASTWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING I RECALL, AND I MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO THOSE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT I KEEP 'EM AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CITY LEVEL AND DOWN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL. SO I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. SHERRY BUTLER. SHERRY BUTLER. SHERRY BUTLER. NEXT SPEAKER. THIS COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING. YEAH. KYLE ROGERS. WHAT'S THE NAME? KYLE ROGER KYLE ROGERS. OKAY. KYLE ROGERS, GO AHEAD. COME ON. WE, WE WE'RE HERE TO HEAR YOU. HELLO. THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY TIME, UH, FOR TAKING MY, MY COMMENT. NO PROBLEM. SORRY FOR SKIPPING YOU. THAT'S OKAY. IT HAPPENS. UM, I'LL JUST READ MY PREPARED STATEMENT. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO DENY THE POLK STREET ABANDONMENT. THIS PROJECT, THIS PROPOSED ABANDONMENT WOULD SEVERELY IMPACT MOBILITY IN OUR EAST END COMMUNITY. OVER 5,000 RIDER RELY ON METRO ROUTES 40 AND 41 DAILY. THIS, UH, AND THIS PROJECT THREATENS TO DISRUPT THESE HIGH RIDERSHIP ROUTES THAT MANY WORKING FAMILIES DEPEND ON. THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION, UH, THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE HAS BEEN DEEPLY CONCERNING. OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY. THE JOINT REFERRAL COMMITTEE PROCESS IS COMPLETELY INADEQUATE FOR A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND FAILS TO CAPTURE THE TRUE IMPACT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST, UH, A COM, A COMPREHENSIVE EAST END MO MOBILITY STUDY THAT INCLUDES ALL POSSIBLE STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE ANY FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN. THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR PROPER EVALUATION OF TRAFFIC PATTERNS, PUBLIC [03:00:01] TRANSIT NEEDS, AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. FURTHERMORE, I ASK THAT NO FINAL DECISION BE MADE BY COUNSEL UNTIL THE FINAL PROJECT PLANS ARE MADE PUBLIC OUR COMMUNITY. I'M ALMOST DONE. UH, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE RIGHT TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON CHANGES THAT WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR DAILY LIVES. IN CONCLUSION, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO DENY THE POLK STREET ABANDONMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND SHARING YOUR CONCERNS. NEXT SPEAKER. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE [RECESS] STAND IN RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM GOOD MORNING. I AM COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ANN ANNAL COUNCIL CHAMBER. I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK FEBRUARY 25 AND 26. ITEM ONE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 27 CD HOUSTON, TEXAS MONTROSE ZONE ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MONTROSE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM THREE, RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHIEF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL OF PAYMENT TO THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP. ITEM FOUR, APPROVAL SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF CARPETS, ADHESIVES AND RELATED MATERIALS FROM SHAW INTEGRATED AND TURF SOLUTIONS INC. ITEM FIVE, APPROVED SPRINTING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT SERVICES FROM COOPERATIVE PERSONNEL SERVICES D-B-A-C-P-S HR CONSULTING ITEM SIX, FAR WEST ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPLY INC. FOR PURCHASE OF TWO UTILITY COURTS. ITEM SEVEN APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF LICENSES FOR FIRST ALERT FOR THE SLED APPLICATION THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES SUPPLY AT CARESOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP. ITEM EIGHT, APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR INSPECTION SERVICES FROM BRIAN SMITH CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION INC. ITEM NINE, PATRICIA TECH SUPPLY AND SERVICE PURCHASE OF FIRE HYDRANT EXTENSION KITS. ITEM 10 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF ONE OR MORE PROPERTIES, EACH OF WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND WITHIN A CENSUS TRACK THAT HAS GREATER THAN 20% HOUSING TAX CREDIT UNITS FOR TOTAL FOR PER TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS. ITEM 11 RESOLUTION CONFIRMING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO ONE MILE THREE YEAR RULE. ITEM 12, ORDINANCE SUBMITTING CHAPTER TWO OF CODE OF ORDINANCES HOUSTON, TEXAS RELATING TO EXCEPT THE OFFICE OF RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY REPEALING DIVISION TWO, ARTICLE 16, CHAPTER TWO, ITEM 13, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF BOILER AND MACHINERY INSURANCE POLICY FROM NATIONAL FIRE INSURANCE OF HARTFORD CNA. ITEM 14 ORDER SUPPLEMENTING CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS MASTER ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENTING AND AMENDING PRIOR ORDINANCES AS IT RELATES TO CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS COMBINED UTILITY ASSISTANCE FIRST LIEN REVENUE REFUNDING BOND SERIES 2004 B THREE ITEM 15 ORDER SUPPLEMENTING CITY OF FUSION, TEXAS MASTER ORDINANCE, SUPPLE RING AND MANY PRIOR ORDINANCES AS IT RELATES TO CITY OF FUSION TEXAS COMBINED UTILITY ASSISTANCE FIRST LIEN REVENUE REFUNDING B SERIES 2004 B SIX ITEM 16, ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENTING MASTER ORDINANCE AND AND RATIFYING CONFIRMING AND AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020 DASH TWO 10 RELATING TO AIRPORT SYSTEM SENIOR LIEN COMMERCIAL PAPER NOTES SERIES A AND SERIES B PROGRAM ITEM 17 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS SOIL SUBORDINATE LIEN HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND PARKING REVENUE FLEXIBLE RATE NO SERIES C DASH ONE IN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $125 MILLION. ITEM 18 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS SUBORDINATE LIEN HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND PARKING REVENUE FLEXIBLE RATE NO SERIES TWO C DASH TWO AND AGGREGATE PRINCIPLE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200 MILLION. ITEM 19, ORDINANCE APPROVING CREATION OF INITIATIVE TO END STREET HOMELESSNESS FUND WITH ZERO BEGINNING FUND BALANCE TO RECEIVE REVENUES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. ITEM 20 ORDERS APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS. ITEM 21 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THIRD AMENDMENT TO SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE SALVATION ARMY. ITEM 22 ORDINANCE [03:05:01] APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNSEL. ITEM 23, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 24 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF GALVESTON HOUSTON. ITEM 25 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS. ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FIFTH AMENDMENT TO MASTER CONTRACT AGREEMENT FOR CITY OF HOUSTON HOME REPAIR PROGRAM TO BE EXECUTED BY A CITY OF HOUSTON AND EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CONTRACTORS S-L-S-C-O-L-T-D-D-S-W HOMES LLC HOUSTON HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC. MAYBERRY HOMES INC. JAMES W. TURNER CONSTRUCTION LTD ITEM 28 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 23 1 55 10 INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT FOR SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER IN HOUSTON. ITEM 29 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PEER-TO-PEER OPERATOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND TWO OH INC. ITEM 30 ORDERS MINDY ORDINANCE 20 24 8 33 TOOK A BREAK INCREASE IN SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS TENANT AND PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS LANDLORD ITEM 31 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING MARKETING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND NEWMARK REAL ESTATE OF HOUSTON LLC ITEM 32 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $319,553 AND NO CENTS OUT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DEDICATION FUND AND 230,000 AND NO CENTS. I CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND AWARDING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO LANDSCAPE ART INC. ITEM 33 ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22 9 6 7 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HICKS JOHNSON PLLC ITEM 34, EXCUSE ME, ORDINANCE APPRO AN AMENDING OR DECEMBER, 2020 4 37 6 INCREASED MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES WITH BECK REDDEN LLP ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 22 1 74 AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH THOMPSON AND HORTON LLP ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,315,346 AND 10 CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND AND AWARDING CONTRACT TO NORTH STAND COMMUNICATIONS INC. DBA BLACK BOX NETWORK SERVICES. ITEM 37 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND PARK ENVIRONMENTAL EQUIPMENT LLC ITEM 38 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH PERAN INC. FORMERLY KNOWN AS NORTHROP GRUMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION. ITEM 39 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 21 982 INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COASTAL ASSOCIATES. L-L-C-D-B-A COASTAL HYDRAULICS ITEM 40. ORDINANCE APPROPRI IN ONE MEANS $467,912 AND 76 CENTS OUTTA TION FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND APPROVED ORDINANCE FROM ANY ORDINANCE 2020 2,752 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT. APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HR GREEN INC. ITEM 41, ORDINANCE OF AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JAMIS FINE FOODS AND SERVICES LLC ITEM 42. ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUB SHIPPING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND CENTER FOR RECOVERY AND WELLNESS RESOURCES. ITEM 43, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT WITH DH PACE COMPANY INC. ITEM 44, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AWARDING. SO SOURCE, CONTRACT S PARK, INC. TO SPARK INC. FOR MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION. ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH SLOVER AND LOFTUS LLP ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DERIVATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED RENTALS NORTH AMERICA INC. ITEM 47, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AND LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. ITEM 48 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED ONE WEEK $300,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL FUND PROJECT AND $97,545 AND NO CENTS OUT OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ITEM 49 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 1000 BLOCK OF NER STREET AND THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF 2,500 BLOCK OF WHITE OAK DRIVE BETWEEN NORTH HILL BOULEVARD AND MISHAW STREET. ITEM 50 ORDINANCE RENEWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE 1800 BLOCK OF COLUMBIA STREET BETWEEN EAST 18TH STREET AND EAST [03:10:01] 20TH STREET. ITEM 51 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A JOINT PARTICIPATION IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT AMONG CITY OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS AND CITY PARK REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY I 52 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,250,000 IN NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WJ INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. I 53 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY SEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SIXTEEN THOUSAND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND RPS INFRASTRUCTURE INC. ITEM 54 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $2,819,452 AND 65 CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SYSTEM CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HALF ASSOCIATES INC. ITEM 55 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THREE METER $124,468 AND NO CENTS. ITEM WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AS CONSULTANTS. LP ITEM 56 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THREE. MEETING $462,636 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SES HORIZON CONSULTING ENGINEERS INC. AND 57 ORDERS APPROPRIATING $4,825,577 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ATKINS. ATKINS REALIST USA INC. FOR CAPACITY REMEDIAL MEASURES. PLAN PACKAGE SIX AREA ONE BASIN IN IBO 43. ITEM 58. ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,508,650 65 CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND AURORA TECHNICAL SERVICES LLCI 59 ORDERS APPROPRIATING $52,500 OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC. ITEM 50 60 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FIVE ME $250,000 AND NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEW SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES. CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND ENBR ENGINEERING INC. ITEM 61 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $902,265 AND NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND BOER INC. ITEM 62 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $5,831,680 NO CENTS OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO BOER INC. ITEM 63 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $4,932,500 NO CENTS OUTTA WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND AWARDING CONTRACT TO RELIANCE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LP ITEM 64 ORDINANCE AWARDING CONTRACT TO DL GLOVER UTILITIES LLC. THAT'S THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE NON-CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM 65 SENATE PUBLIC HEARING DATE ON THE PROPOSAL TO USE APPROXIMATELY 19,700 SQUARE FEET OF S RODRIGUEZ PARK EAST FOR A 20 FOOT STRIP OF PERMANENT PARK PROPERTY FOR CONSTRUCTION AND FUTURE MAINTENANCE. AND A 30 FOOT STRIP OF TEMPORARY PARK PROPERTY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FOR THE 54 INCH WATER LINE PROJECT PORTION OF SOUTHEAST TRANSMISSION LINE PROGRAM. SUGGESTED HEARING DATE, 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26TH UNDER THE MATTERS HELD CATEGORY. ITEM 66, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM, SECONDED BY CONST MEMBER PECK THAT THE REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ROOFIE NAAR, NOT RAJAN HARRIS COUNTY APPOINTEE TO POSITION SIX OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN POLL. THIS IS ITEM TWO ON AGENDA FEBRUARY THE 12TH. ITEM 67, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CAST TEXAS TATUM. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PEC, THE REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ROOFING NATARAJAN HARRIS COUNTY APPOINTEE TO POSITION SIX OF THE ST. GEORGE PLACE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS TAGGED BY CONST MEMBER POLLARD. THIS WAS ITEM THREE ON AGENDA FEBRUARY THE 12TH. ITEM 68, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCC CASTEX TATU. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PA THAT THE REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENTS HONOR. NUMBER 20. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND THIS IS ITEM FOUR ON AGENDA FEBRUARY 12TH AND ITEM 69, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MC CAST STADIUM. SECOND, MY COUNCILMAN P THAT THE REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR SOUTHWEST HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. THIS IS ALSO TAB BY COUNCILMAN THOMAS AND POLL. THIS WAS ITEM FIVE ON AGENDA OF [03:15:01] FEBRUARY THE 12TH, 2025. ITEM 70, MOTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PEC TO APPROVE SCREENING AUTHORITY FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TRAINING FROM SAN CENTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THIS WAS TAB COUNCIL A POLL. THIS WAS ITEM 20 ON AGENDA FEBRUARY THE 12TH. ITEM 71, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WEAVER AND TIDWELL, LLP TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THIS IS ITEM 34 ON AGENDA OF FEBRUARY THE 12TH. ITEM 72, ORDINANCE CONSENTED TO THE ADDITIONAL OF 26.6199 ACRES OF LAND TO HARRIS COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER ONE 19 TAB BY COUNCILMAN KAMAN. THIS IS ITEM 46 ON AGENDA FEBRUARY THE 12TH. AND ITEM 73, MOTION FOR COUNCILMAN MCC CASTEX TATUM. SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PEC TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT AND ACCEPTIVE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THIS WAS TAGGED, THIS WAS DELAYED BY MOTION. 2025 DASH ONE 13. THIS WAS ITEM 53 ON AGENDA FEBRUARY THE 12TH, 2025. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. STATES TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY THE 26TH, 2025. TODAY IS MY YOUNGEST ADOPTED SON'S BIRTHDAY. HE IS 37. EDISON RAYON JOHNSON, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. AND IN THE WORDS OF THE CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TREAT EVERYONE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. HAVE A BLESSED AND PENTA DAY COUNCIL. [RECONVENE] PLEASE COME TO ORDER. GOOD MORNING AND THANK [MAYOR'S REPORT] YOU TO THE MAYOR PRO HIM FOR, UH, CHAIRING YESTERDAY. HI, DAD. I WAS ON CITY BUSINESS, WHICH WE'LL GO OVER IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL IN A MOMENT. UH, I UNDERSTAND MOST OF YOU MISSED ME, BUT WE WON'T HAVE A ROLL CALL ON THAT THIS MORNING. I'D ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN EXPRESSING OUR CONDOLENCES TO THOMAS LUCAS FAMILY, A PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE THAT PASSED AWAY ON THE JOB YESTERDAY. HE'S IN THE DITCH MAINTENANCE SECTION. HE WAS ON THE JOB WORKING, HAD A STROKE. HIS COWORKERS TRIED TO REVIVE HIM. IT'S JUST ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION OF OUR COMMITTED PUBLIC CITY EMPLOYEES THAT GO ABOUT MAKING THIS A GREAT CITY THAT DO NOT GET THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE. AND, UH, THIS WAS A TRUE LOSS. HIS MOTHER HAD PASSED A WEEK AWAY A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, SO HE WAS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS AND HE WAS A 16 YEAR VETERAN CITY EMPLOYEES THAT WE LOST ON THE JOB YESTERDAY. SO IF YOU WOULD TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO THINK OF HIS FAMILY. THANK YOU. YESTERDAY I DID TRAVEL AND HAD A PRODUCTIVE DAY. OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM IS DOING A GREAT JOB IN AUSTIN. I MET FIRST WITH THE GOVERNOR, THEN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IMMEDIATELY RAN TO THE HOUSE AND MET WITH THE CHAIRMAN APPROPRIATIONS BONUM. OBVIOUSLY THE TOPIC WAS STATE ASSISTANCE IN MEETING SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES, COLLABORATION, UH, ADDRESSING OUR AGENDA. MET WITH, UH, CHARLES PERRY FROM LUBBOCK CHAIRMAN OF WATER. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A STRONG STATEWIDE WATER INITIATIVE AND HE KNOWS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES LOCALLY. CHAIRMAN BENTON COURT MET WITH US HUFFMAN CHAIRMAN OF FINANCE, AND WE ENDED TODAY WITH THE COMPTROLLER HAGER IN HIS OFFICE. THERE HAD BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT OF 25 MILLION THAT WAS, UH, A MISCALCULATION, NO ONE'S FAULT, NEITHER THE STATE NOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT THAT'S BEING ATTENDED TO AND WE'LL HAVE A SATISFACTORY, UH, RESOLUTION OVER SEVERAL MONTHS TO RESOLVE THAT. SO IT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE DAY AND, UH, EXPERIENCE AND RELATIONSHIPS CONTINUED TO MATTER. WITH THAT SAID, UH, A REAL POSITIVE NOTE, LATER TODAY, WE WILL CREATE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY. UH, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT ISSUE ON OUR AGENDA, I WOULD LIKE ANGELA BLANCHARD TO COME FORWARD. SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS SERVICE FOR MONTHS. NOW, AS YOU ALL KNOW, SOME OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE OUR APPOINTMENTS OF POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND, UH, [03:20:01] I'VE KNOWN ANGELA FOR YEARS. SHE BUILT BAKER RIPLEY TO BE THE NUMBER ONE NONPROFIT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I CAN REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS SO MUCH SMALLER, BUT TO GO TO HER GOFTON, UH, CREATION AND AND SERVE THE, UH, OFTEN FORGOTTEN ACROSS THIS CITY, UH, ANGELA, TO COME OUTTA RETIREMENT AND GO TO WORK IN MY ADMINISTRATION IS ONE OF MY REAL BLESSINGS. AND IF YOU WOULD, YOU MIGHT GIVE US A SNAPSHOT. I I KNOW EVERY TIME THERE'S A STORM, UH, NOT ONLY HERE 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN HANDLING OUR RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE, BUT ACROSS, REALLY ACROSS THE GLOBE. I KNOW YOU'VE DONE EXTENSIVE WORK IN EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA, AND, UH, I DO KNOW THAT LOS ANGELES ASKED YOU TO COME ASSIST THEM. YOU'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOME OF THE LA LEADERSHIP IN TERMS OF THEIR TRAGEDIES. BUT THIS IS WHERE WE NEED YOU. THIS IS WHERE WE'RE BENEFITING FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE AND, UH, PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. SO LET ME YIELD TO YOU, IF YOU WOULD GIVE US A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN OCCUPYING. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN OUT IN NORTHEAST, UH, CREATING A REAL HUB AT CASHMERE WITH A GENERATOR, WHICH IS BEING INSTALLED. YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU EVER CALL SOMETHING A HUB WITHOUT BACKUP ENERGY? YOU AND I HAVE THAT COMMON SENSE DIRECT APPROACH. SO LET ME YIELD TO YOU AND GIVE US A SNAPSHOT AND WHAT YOU ENVISION GOING FORWARD. OKAY? GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR INTRODUCING ME. IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE. ALREADY. I'VE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ON, UM, ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO YOU RELATIVE TO RECOVERY, RESILIENCE, AND SUSTAINABILITY. AND, UH, AS YOU'LL HEAR LATER, THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE INCLUDES SUSTAINABILITY AS WELL. UH, THESE THINGS ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED ON THE RECOVERY FRONT, THE MAYOR'S ROUND TABLE, WHICH IS 65 COMMUNITY LEADERS REPRESENTING INSTITUTIONS AND PARTNERS WE REGULARLY WORK WITH. MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD INPUT INTO THE AGENDA FOR THAT ROUND TABLE, UM, WEIGHED IN ON WHO SERVES FOOD, AT WHAT STAGE OF RECOVERY AND HOW DO WE COORDINATE VOLUNTEERS BETTER. SO I THANK YOU ALL OF YOU WHO'VE HELPED US SET THE TABLE FOR THAT ROUND TABLE AND FOR RECOVERY. ON THE RESILIENCE FRONT, THE MAYOR, I CAME TO WORK HERE LARGELY BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE ON HIS TEAM. I LOVE THE TEAM I GET TO SERVE, SERVE WITH, AND THAT TEAM IS DETERMINED TO TACKLE HARD CHALLENGES OF HOW WE ACTUALLY HARDEN UP FACILITIES. SO THERE ARE PLACES OF REFUGE. WE STARTED WITH CASHMERE BECAUSE PROMISES HAD BEEN MADE THERE AND WE INTENDED TO OVERCOME ALL OBSTACLES TO DELIVER ON THOSE. AND WORKING WITH A TEAM, THAT GENERATOR WILL BE OPERABLE IN EARLY FALL. SO PROUD OF THAT. WE HAVE MANY MORE TO GO. AND THE MAYOR WILL BE MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT POWER PROTECTION ACROSS THE CITY AT A DIFFERENT TIME. UH, HIS LEADERSHIP ON THAT IS VITAL AND IMPORTANT AND GROUNDED ON THE SUSTAINABILITY SIDE. SUSTAINABILITY IS REALLY ABOUT HOW WE SHEPHERD AND, AND, UH, WHAT KIND OF STEWARDS WE ARE OF RESOURCES. SUSTAINABILITY HAS TO START WITH THE PRESERVATION AND CAREFUL USE OF WHAT WE HAVE. AND TOWARD THAT END, THE FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT IN OUR USE OF WATER AND PREVENT LEAKS. THE FOCUS ON ENERGY AND THE WAY WE'RE USING IT AND MAKING SELECTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, A NATURAL GAS GENERATOR OVER A DIESEL GENERATOR. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF CHOICES THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCIL AND THE LARGE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONAL LEADERS THAT WANNA SUPPORT THE MAYOR. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON IN THIS OFFICE. AND SO I'M LIKE SUPER PROUD AND EXCITED. I JUST WANNA SAY, MAYOR, I'VE STOOD AT THIS PODIUM A LOT OF TIMES FOR A LOT OF REASONS, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE SERVING MY CITY. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR WORKING WITH US. THANK YOU CA UH, CA UH, ANGELA, UH, COUNCILMAN KAMAN. OH, THANK YOU MAYOR ANGELA. I TOO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED, MAYOR, TO SEE THIS ITEM COME FORWARD. UM, AND TO SEE THE OFFICE BRING TOGETHER ALL THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT PREVIOUSLY RIGHT, SOME FELL UNDER A RA, SOME FELL UNDER THE CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER. SO THE CONSOLIDATION AND THE UMBRELLA, UM, SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS FROM ONE LENS MOVING FORWARD IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO MAYOR, I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE ANGELA WHERE SHE IS IN THIS POSITION. UH, ANGELA, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED OFFLINE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC TO HEAR, UH, IN TERMS OF THE IMPORTANCE, MAYOR, FROM THE RECOVERY PERSPECTIVE. SO OF COURSE THE FIRST PRIORITY IS [03:25:01] RECOVERY AND GETTING OUR BUILDINGS TO, UH, TO A LEVEL WHERE WE CAN WITHSTAND, UH, THE INCREASING SEVERE WEATHER THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION SO THAT WE AREN'T IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO RECOVER, BUT RATHER WE'RE RESILIENT AGAINST, UH, THO THOSE OUTSIDE FACTORS THAT WE ARE SEEING INCLUDING CLIMATE CHANGE? SO REALLY, UM, I'M, I'M VERY HARDCORE ON THE RECOVERY SIDE AND VERY GROUNDED. WE ARE NOT GOING TO PREVENT THE MOST CHALLENGING STORMS FROM COMING OUR WAY. WE DON'T HAVE THAT POWER. CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE, AND REGARDLESS OF YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT ITS ORIGIN OR CAUSES, WE ARE VULNERABLE AS A CITY, BUT WE ARE ALSO STRONG RESILIENCE. THE ROOTS OF RESILIENCY IN THIS CITY ARE IN ITS PEOPLE. AND WE SEE THAT IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES. SO NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES BEING PREPARED, US TAKING STEPS TO EMPOWER THEM TO DO THEIR OWN PREPARATION WORK, AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, US DOING THOSE THINGS WHICH WE AS A CITY UNIQUELY HOLD RESPONSIBILITY FOR. SO I WILL SAY, UM, WE, THE REASON RECOVERY COMES FIRST FOR ME IS WE HAVE TO ALL BE HERE IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THE REST AND THE MOVEMENT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN THE WAY WE STEWARD RESOURCES AND NEWS, ENERGY RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY HOUSTON SITS UNIQUELY AT THAT CHALLENGE BECAUSE HERE WE ARE, THE ENERGY CAPITAL, BUT ALSO HAVING TO WORK WITH ALL THE PARTNERS THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE ENERGY TRANSITION A POSSIBILITY. WE ARE GONNA WORK WITH THOSE PARTNERS TO UNDERSTAND THE INVESTMENTS TO LARGE COMPANIES IN HOUSTON ARE MAKING IN RESILIENCE SO THAT WE CAN GUIDE THOSE AND SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY'RE ON THE TRACK OF MAKING HOUSTON AND ITS PEOPLE SAFER AND MORE RESILIENT. I HOPE THAT WE CAN COUNT ON ALL OF YOU TO BE PARTNERS IN THAT, UH, THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL CITY AND WE NEED TO BE OPERABLE, COME HELL, WIND OR HIGH WATER, AND WE NEED ALL OF OUR PARTNERS TO WORK IN THAT DIRECTION. SO I KNOW I CAN COUNT ON YOU COUNCIL MEMBER AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT THUS FAR. THANK YOU. WELL SAID. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU ANGELA. UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS AND WE, I THINK AS A CITY WE ALL HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT TRULY THE POWER THAT WE HOLD IS IN OUR PEOPLE. AND KNOWING WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW BEFORE THE UNAVOIDABLE HITS IS REALLY THE KEY TO RECOVERY. AND AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING WORKING WITH YOU ON A PLAN THAT, UM, WILL ADDRESS THAT WHEN THE NEED ARISES BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE ON THE RECEIVING END OF GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE. AND SO WE JUST NEED TO BE PREPARED. AND CERTAINLY, UM, YOUR APPROACH IS, IS, UH, ONE THAT IS TO BE ADMIRED AND CERTAINLY I THINK LONG TERM WILL SERVE US WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO STADIUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU ANGELA FOR AGREEING TO COME OUTTA RETIREMENT TO SERVE THE CITY IN, IN SUCH A VITAL CAPACITY. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE THAT WE WOULD CREATE, UH, THE OFFICE OF RECOVERY AND, AND RESILIENCY AND THAT ALL THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT MAKE UP RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY. UH, YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH A KEY LEADER AND, AND PLAYER IN, IN, IN SO MANY OF THOSE COMPONENTS. UH, YOU HAVE THE, THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE AND I KNOW THAT, UH, WE ARE READY TO WORK WITH YOU. YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY COUNT ME AS A, AS A SUPPORTER AND ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS AND PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, FOR MY DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO EXTREME HEAT. AND SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT. YES. AND, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE THE CITY. WE, WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. AND IN PARTICULAR, THE COLLABORATION, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THAT ROUND TABLE, I'VE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED BEFORE. CERTAINLY CORPORATE HOUSTON, OUR PHILANTHROPIC NON-PROFITS, YOU ARE, YOU'RE THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME. WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND YOU'RE SO WELL RESPECTED THAT THEY DON'T TURN YOU DOWN, THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE CITY LIKE WE DO. BUT IT'S YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT'S MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS ALL OF YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU MA'AM. AND I KNOW THE MAYOR WOULD LIKE ME TO NOW LEAVE AND GO BACK TO WORK. YES. SO THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, ANGELA. NOW, UH, IT'S TIME TO GET EXCITED ABOUT GO TEXAN DAY, UH, IS FRIDAY. WE'RE GONNA ENCOURAGE CITY EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO WEAR YOUR WESTERN OUTFIT, CERTAINLY, [03:30:01] UH, IT'S ENCOURAGED AND, AND WE WILL CELEBRATE OUR HERITAGE. UH, THOSE OF US THAT GREW UP IN HOUSTON, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU MY EARLY MEMORIES OF ROY ROGERS COMING TO TOWN, BUT, UH, Y'ALL CAN GOOGLE THAT IF YOU WANNA LOOK IT UP. UH, BUT FRIDAY WE'LL HAVE THE ROUND UP IS FROM 11 TO 1:00 PM IN FRONT OF CITY HALL. OBVIOUSLY THERE'LL BE THE COOK-OFFS AT NRG STARTING THURSDAY EVENING. AND, UM, WE'LL ALL BE IN AND WATCHING THE PARADE ON, UH, SATURDAY MORNING. SO IT'S EXCITING TIME TO BE IN HOUSTON. LET'S, UH, ENJOY IT, BE SAFE. AND, UH, THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO WORK. WITH THAT SAID, UH, THE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. PERSONAL PECK WOULD LIKE THE VICE MAYOR PRO TIMM PECK WOULD LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE HARMONY SCHOOL OF ACHIEVEMENT IF THEY CAN STAND UP. WELCOME TO CITY HALL AND THANKS TO THE PARENTS TOO FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WELCOME, MAYOR. Y'ALL COME BACK AGAIN SOON. [CONSENT AGENDA] MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE PROCEED WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA? UM, THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEM ONES AND TWO, ONE AND TWO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM THREE NEEDS A MOTION CAST, TM MOVE MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT, UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY, ITEM EIGHT HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEMS 4, 5, 6, 7, AND NINE. NEED A MOTION? STATE A MOVE. NEXT SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE RESOLUTION CATEGORY. ITEMS 10 AND 11. JUST NEED OPPOSED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEMS 17 AND 18 HAVE BEEN PULLED AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ITEM 40 AND 43, 43, 40, 43 AND 48 HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF THEY HAVE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING. ITEMS REMOVE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. 12, 19, 27, 31, 32, 34, 35, 38, 42, 44, 45, 47, AND 51. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 12, 19 27, 31 AND 32, 34, 35, 38, 42, 44, 45, 47, AND 51. NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] I REMOVE FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM ONE NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX STATE A MOVE. COUNCILMAN KADEN. THANK YOU, MA, DO WE NEED A SECOND TO OPEN IT? OBJECTION. I'M, I'M SORRY I MISSED THAT. I APOLOGIZE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE UP THE NOMINEES FOR THE MONTROSE TOURS. UM, AND I'M GOING TO PLAN TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UH, BUT I WANTED TO, UH, READ A VERY BRIEF STATEMENT GIVEN WE HAVE HAD, UH, SO MANY RESIDENTS REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE, AS WELL AS ATTENDING THE MONTROSE TOURS MEETINGS. WE'VE HAD 30 TO 60 RESIDENTS AT EVERY MONTROSE TOURS MEETING, AND THAT'S HOW EVERYT SHOULD BE, RIGHT? THAT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT. AND WE WANNA SEE THAT. SO, UH, IF, UH, I APPRECIATE THE MINUTE JUST TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND I FIRST WANNA RECOGNIZE THE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE OF ABBY NOBLE'S, JEFF WATERS, AND EUREKA GILKEY. THEY SERVED WITH DISTINCTION, COMMITMENT, AND INTEGRITY. THEY PUT IN COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS. THEY CAME WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF LISTENING AND ACTING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY. AND THEY NEVER FALTERED IN THEIR COMMITMENT. SO I PERSONALLY WANNA THANK THEM ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTLESS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THE SAME THING THAT I AM RIGHT NOW. THE INDIVIDUALS PUT FORWARD TODAY ARE QUALIFIED, AND TWO, I KNOW AND RESPECT FOR THEIR EXTENSIVE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, SPECIFICALLY KATIE AND RAY. UH, I SUPPORT THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE AND THEIR PROMISE TO ME THAT THEY WILL LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND TAKE ACTION BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT. I TRUST THEM AND I'M TAKING THEM AT THEIR [03:35:01] WORD ON THIS. AND I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR MONTROSE TOURS, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE AREA, OUR SCHOOLS IN THE AREA ARE BUSINESSES IN THE AREA. FOR YEARS, I AM CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE LOST NOW ALL INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE WITH THIS TURS. THE BOARD HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED, BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP PIPELINE, NO TRANSITION, NO CONSISTENCY IN THE MIDST OF NEARLY A DECADES, IF NOT MORE OF WORK. THIS TOURS WAS CREATED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THEY PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE CITY WHO WANTED TO ACTUALLY EXTEND THE MIDTOWN TOURS INTO THE AREA. AND IT WAS AND MUST REMAIN NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVEN. AND I AM CONCERNED THAT WE ARE LOSING THAT DIRECTION. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE I TAKE EACH NOMINEE ON THEIR OWN MERITS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT THE G AND THE ALPHABET DOES NOT A RAINBOW MAKE. DIVERSITY IS MUCH, MUCH MORE. AND REPRESENTATION IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN MONTROSE. SO TODAY I AM VOTING YES. MOVING FORWARD. IF THERE'S ANOTHER FAILURE TO INCLUDE IN THE PROCESS OF NOMINATIONS, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING THE SCORES WHO CONTINUE TO ATTEND MEETINGS, DESPITE BEING, UH, HAVING THE EXPERIENCE OF NOT BEING LISTENED TO, OR MY OFFICE IS A DULY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA, I'LL BE VOTING NO. BUT TODAY, BASED ON THE MERITS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, I'LL BE VOTING YES. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YES, AS OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM TWO NEEDS A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR, CAST. STATE A, MOVE. SECOND, MOTIONS MADE. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 12 IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU NEED TO VOTE ALL FAVOR SAY YES, THOSE SUPPOSED NAY. DO WE HAVE A TABLE AMENDMENT? UH, COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE YOU. I HAVE, UH, LANGUAGE. IT'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. I WORKED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON, UH, THAT BASICALLY INCLUDES JUST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE, UH, IN THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY. IT INCLUDES A DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY BASED ON FEDERAL LANGUAGE. UH, IT ALSO REFERENCES EXTREME WEATHER SUCH AS FLOODING, WINTER STORMS, AND DROUGHTS. I FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE, UH, THE TYPES OF WEATHER THAT HOUSTON IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING. UH, IT ALSO REFERENCES IN THE LANGUAGE AND THE PURPOSE. UH, IT INCLUDES THE RESILIENT HOUSTON PLAN. SO THERE'S A VERY STRONG FOCUS, WHICH I APPRECIATE ON THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND ON RECOVERY. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE REFERENCE TO ADDITIONAL WORKS THAT THE CITY HAS PREVIOUSLY DONE SO THAT ALL OF THAT CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. UH, IT DOES NOT CHANGE IN ANY WAY THE SPIRIT OR INTENT, UH, OF THIS ITEM. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 12 AS SHOWN WITH THE ATTACHED RED LINE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT. STATE COUNCILOR RAMIREZ. IS IT THE COUNCILOR RAMIREZ? I'M SORRY, MAYOR, I'VE GOT NO PROBLEM WITH 12. AND JUST RECEIVE THE AMENDMENT. HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT AND CONSIDER HOW IT WILL AFFECT, UH, THE LARGER ITEM 12 AND THE REST OF THE ORDINANCE. SO I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THE AMENDMENT. OKAY, VERY FINE. ANYONE ELSE? NO, THAT'S ALL. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES WITH COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ VOTING NO. NOW ON THE AMENDED ITEM. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION. 12 PASSES. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, JUST WANNA, UH, BRING SOME CLARITY TO THIS ITEM. UM, I, I ATTENDED SEVERAL OF THE MEETINGS WITH THE IDA WOOD AND THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR, UM, FOR THIS, UH, PROPOSED DOG PARK, UH, THAT IS GONNA BE BUILT. AND JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME CLARITY NOW THAT THIS ITEM IS BEING PASSED. WE DO HAVE A CLEARER PATH NOW TO WHEN IT'LL BE DONE. I THINK THERE WAS A PREMATURE CELEBRATION ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND SO EXPECTATIONS WERE SET THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY SEE SOMETHING DONE THIS YEAR. UM, BUT JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I, I'M, I'M ON THE RECORD TO SAY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GLAD WHERE WE ARE NOW. AND THAT, UH, WE'LL, WE SHOULD SEE A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND EARLY NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY [03:40:01] YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT. ITEM 34 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. AFTER THE VOTE. AFTER THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED ANY MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, SIMPLY WANNA SPOTLIGHT THIS ITEM AS WELL AS ITEM 48 THAT WE'LL BE VOTING, VOTING ON. THIS ITEM EXTENDS THE LIFE TIME OF OUR CURRENT COMPUTER. AIDED DISPATCH. YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT CAD BEFORE. CAD IS SOMETHING THAT MYSELF AND PRIMARILY COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, UH, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND ADVOCATING FOR FOR YEARS. UH, WE ARE COMING UP THANKS TO DIRECTOR KENT AND IT MOVING TOWARDS THE REPLACEMENT OF THAT SYSTEM. IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. UH, AND THEN ITEM 48, THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HPD. THIS WAS ANOTHER PRIORITY ITEM THAT, THAT IS ON TRACK TO LAUNCH ON APRIL. NEED THE RMS SYSTEM TO GO SMOOTHLY, UH, BUT VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND EXCITED THAT WE HAVE NEW TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS COMING ONLINE FOR SAFETY EFFICIENCY, UH, AND THE BENEFIT OF ALL HOUSTONIANS. THANK THANKS. NEXT, ITEM 42 IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. WE HAVE A TAG FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA. COUNCIL MEMBER TAGS. ITEM 42. NEXT ITEM 44 IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU NEED TO VOTE ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES AFTER THE VOTE. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILOR RAMIREZ FOR A COMMENT. YES, MAYOR, I JUST WANNA THANK, UH, SPARK PARKS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN, UH, HELPING TO REVITALIZE SOME OF THE PARKS MOST IN NEED OF, UH, ATTENTION HERE IN HOUSTON. UH, THIS WORTHWHILE PROGRAM, UH, UH, UPGRADES, PARKS AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. AND, UH, THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WILL HELP THREE, UH, PLAYGROUNDS, UH, IN THE HISD, UM, WITH UPGRADES AND, AND THEY'RE LOCATED IN UNDERSERVED AREAS. SO THANK YOU TO, UH, SPARK PARKS, UH, FOR HELPING THE CITY REVITALIZE ITS PARKS. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM 45 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 51 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM [NON-CONSENT - MISCELLANEOUS] 65. WHAT NUMBER? 65. MS FIVE. OKEY DO MOVING RIGHT ALONG NEEDS A MOTION? ALL IN FAVOR? OH. MOTION HEARING CASTEX T. MOVE TO SET THE HEARING DATE FOR 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26TH, 2025. MOTIONS. I SECOND MAID. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. NEXT [MATTERS HELD] ITEM. 66. HOLD ON. LEMME SEE. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 67. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 68. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 69. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 70. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 71 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 72 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN? YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN. I'M SORRY, YOU SAID ITEM 72, CORRECT? YES. THANK YOU. UM, I'M GONNA BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM. UH, THE PROPOSED ANNEX TRACKS ARE WITHIN OVER 63. NEARLY 64% ARE WITHIN THE 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN. UH, AND SEVEN OVER 7% IN THE 500 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN. UH, I'M GROWING INCREASINGLY WEARY OF SEEING SOME OF OUR MUDS ARE TERRIFIC, UH, AND, AND THERE'S NO DISPARAGEMENT AGAINST THEM. BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD IN THE FLOOD PLAINS WITHOUT, I BELIEVE, ADDITIONAL FLOOD MITIGATION TO REMOVE [03:45:01] PORTIONS, UM, OF THESE AREA AREAS OUT OF RISK. SO I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. ALL IN, WE GOT A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. AS OPPOSED TO NAY CAYMAN. NO. SHOW COUNCILMAN CAYMAN VOTING NO. MOTION PASSES. ITEM 73, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES AS OPPOSED TO NAY. MOTION PASSES. THIS COMPLETES THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN ON THE AGENDA. VERY GOOD. MAYOR PRO, UH, MAYOR [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] PROTIC STATE FOR POPUP. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, ALSO WANNA REITERATE, UM, THAT WE ARE MOVING INTO RODEO SEASON. UH, I LOVE THE RODEO, UH, HOWEVER, SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS DO NOT BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC AND ALL THAT HAPPENS WHEN RODEO SEASON, UH, COMES TO TOWN. BUT I'M VERY PLEASED THAT THE, UM, RODEO COMMITTEE AND THEIR TEAM HAS, UM, PUT IN PLACE THAT THE, THE BUSES THAT TYPICALLY ARE ALONG, UH, MUR WORTH AND SOME OF THE AREAS NORTH STADIUM DRIVE WILL NOT BE PARKED. UM, BLOCKING ACCESS FOR THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT A TO GET IN AND OUT. UM, SO THIS ISSUE WAS QUICKLY ADDRESSED, SO I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE, THE MEMBERS ON THE TRANSPORTATION TEAM AND THE RODEO FOR, UM, KEEPING THE CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS IN MIND. UM, SO WE SHOULD HAVE A, A GOOD TIME AT THE RODEO AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE NEAR NRG. UM, ALSO WANNA LET THE RESIDENTS ON MUR WORTH KNOW THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS INFORMED THAT, UH, DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE WESTRIDGE LIFT STATION, THERE WILL BE SOME TRAFFIC CHANGES ALONG MUR WORTH DRIVE BETWEEN BUFFALO SPEEDWAY AND MAIN STREET FOR THOSE PAVEMENT REPAIRS. UH, THOSE LANES WILL BE BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT CONSTRUCTION, YOU CAN DEFINITELY CONTACT OUR OFFICE. VERY EXCITED THAT CIGNA SUNDAY IN THE PARK WILL HAPPEN ON SUNDAY, MARCH THE SECOND FROM 12 TO 4:00 PM AT TOWN WOOD PARK, UH, LOCATED AT 34 0 2 SIMS BROOK DRIVE. THIS IS A FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT. THERE WILL BE MUSIC, DANCE, AND DELICIOUS FOOD IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND YOU LIKE TO CELEBRATE THE NATIONAL DR. SEUSS DATE, THAT WILL BE THE THEME OF THE SUNDAY, UH, CIGNA SUNDAY IN THE PARK. SO WE'LL BE OUT THERE WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, HAVING AN UNFORGETTABLE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. ALSO, UM, IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP FOR OUR DISTRICT K NEWSLETTER, WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO DO THAT. WE'VE SENT OUT SOME UPDATES. UM, KEEP KEEP IN CONTACT WITH OUR OFFICE. UM, YOU CAN CONTACT US AT 8 3 2 3 9 3 3 0 1 6. UH, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND MAKE IT A GREAT DAY. YOU VICE MAYOR PRO PECK. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, MAYOR FIRST WE HAVE OUR NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. UM, IT WILL BE THIS MONDAY, UH, I'M SORRY, TWO MARCH 3RD. UM, SO PLEASE JOIN US AT THAT. UM, 10:00 AM THE PRESENTATION WILL BE, UM, FLEET MANAGEMENT. WE WILL TALK ABOUT EMERGENCY VEHICLES, UM, FOR HFD AND HPD. SO PLEASE JOIN US FOR THAT, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING. AND THEN ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THE ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE BRANCH. IT IS OUR HPD VERSUS HFD SOFTBALL GAME. IT WILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 22ND. UM, THE GAME WILL BEGIN AT NOON AND IT WILL BE AT THIS AT SPRING SPIRIT ON PITNER ROAD. SO JOIN US FOR THAT EVENT TOO. IT'S ALWAYS A FUN, UM, EVENT EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD ORILLA. OH, I APOLOGIZE. MARTINEZ. HOW YOU DOING? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I, I WANT TO THANK, UH, YOU AND YOUR TEAM MAYOR FOR HELPING US CATCH UP WITH THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE JRC PROCESS. UH, APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT WITH THAT. UM, WE'VE ALSO CONTINUED TO DO OUR CIVIC CLUB AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR. UM, WE'VE VISITED SEVERAL, ALMOST, UH, ALMOST MORE THAN ABOUT A DOZEN OR SO. TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA BE AT SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 64 AND 88, AND EXCITED TO BRING SOME UPDATES ON THE LAWNDALE DOG PARK. UH, WE ARE HOSTING A DISTRICT I DEPARTMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, FORUM. IT'S GONNA BE THURSDAY, MARCH THE SIXTH AT THE ROCK CHURCH, 41 0 1 BROADWAY STREET. YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THE VARIOUS, UH, CITY DEPARTMENTS, SOME OF THE HOW TO ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR ISSUES. AND IT'LL BE ANYTHING FROM CITY LEGAL, SOLID WASTE, HPD, THE, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL. UM, ALSO WANT TO INVITE, UM, MY COLLEAGUES ON MARCH THE SIXTH. I'M PARTNERING WITH JUVENILE RIGHTS TO ANNOUNCE, UH, A LAUNCH OF THE NEW PROGRAM CALLED RECOVER. UH, THIS, THIS PROGRAM'S GONNA, UH, HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP, UH, FOR YOUTH [03:50:01] AFFECTED BY JUVENILE JUSTICE CHILD. WE WELFARE, HOMELESSNESS. UH, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STOP BY THE LEGACY ROOM, UH, TO HEAR FIRSTHAND, UH, ABOUT THE COALITION AND THE MEMBERS THAT ARE JOINING TOGETHER FOR THAT. AND THEN LAST, UH, JUST WANNA, UM, YOU KNOW, ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE A NEW ADDITION TO DISTRICT. I, UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, EDITH SANTA MARIA, HAD HER BABY YESTERDAY, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HER AND HER HUSBAND, DANIEL AND, UH, THEIR OTHER SON, HOUSTON. UH, I'LL BE OUT OF A CHIEF OF STAFF TILL MAY THE 12TH, AND THAT, THAT DATE'S GONNA STICK WITH ME FOR A WHILE. UH, BUT, UH, HAVE A GREAT TEAM. UH, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT HER. AND, AND AGAIN, UH, ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING, UM, THAT THEY NEED TO SEND TO OUR OFFICE, POINT OF CONTACT WILL BE CHRISTINA CAMARILLO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR AND POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, A STORY ON THE FRONT OF THE FORWARD TIMES THAT YOU ALL MAY SEE AROUND, UH, CITY HALL. IT IS A STORY ABOUT MY GRANDFATHER, UH, REVEREND DR. TJ JIMON. YOU ALL MAY KNOW, UH, MY FAMILY'S HISTORY, BUT MY, MY GRANDFATHER, TJ JIMON, WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING'S MENTOR, AND HE ORGANIZED THE FIRST, FIRST BUS BOYCOTT IN 19 53, 2 YEARS BEFORE THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT IN 1955. THAT WAS LED BY MARTIN LUTHER KING. AND, UH, MARTIN LUTHER KING LEANED ON MY GRANDFATHER FOR INSIGHT, UM, FOR MENTORSHIP AND THE BLUEPRINT ON HOW TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL, UM, BUS BOYCOTT IN 1953. UH, THE BUS BOYCOTT THAT MY GRANDFATHER LED ONLY LASTED EIGHT DAYS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A SETTLEMENT, UH, TO DESEGREGATE THOSE BUSES. BUT IN MONTGOMERY, IT TOOK OVER A YEAR AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST PIVOTAL, PIVOTAL PO UH, MOMENTS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. AND SO THE FORWARD TIMES DID A REALLY GOOD PIECE ON THE HISTORY, UH, SOME OF THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. AND, UH, I'LL PROBABLY DROP A FEW OF THESE OFF AT YOUR OFFICES SO YOU ALL CAN, UH, READ IT AS WELL. UM, SECONDLY, MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT MY OFFICE IS STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH GETTING APPROVALS FOR SOME OF OUR COUNCIL COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUND PROGRAMS. UM, I'VE GIVEN YOU A CALL, I'VE SENT YOU A TEXT, I'VE TRIED TO TALK TO YOU IN PERSON. I'VE WRITTEN EMAILS TO YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF. NO RESPONSE. UM, THESE DOLLARS, WHICH ARE GIVEN TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, SHOULD BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR DISTRICTS. AND AS LONG AS THEY ARE PERMISSIBLE, THEN THOSE DOLLARS, UH, TYPICALLY GET APPROVED AND THOSE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, UM, CAN GO FORWARD. ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE SUBMITTED HAVE GONE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS AND GONE THROUGH CITY LEGAL AND HAVE BEEN PERMISSIBLE. UM, AND SO I'M STILL WAITING ON CLARITY FROM YOU ON WHY MY PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ARE NOT GETTING APPROVED. UM, THESE ARE ALL SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS. MANY OF THEM ARE SUPPLEMENTING THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE'RE BRINGING IN PRIVATE CONTRACTORS TO HELP WITH HOME REPAIR OR HEAVY TRASH. THE DISTRICT J PATROL, UH, NONE OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD UNLESS THE PROGRAMS ARE APPROVED. SO I STILL DON'T HAVE CLARITY ON WHY THAT IS. UM, THERE SEEMS TO BE A COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN. UM, DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME TODAY ON WHY THOSE PROGRAMS ARE NOT APPROVED? MAYOR? NO, SIR. CONTINUE, PLEASE. SO THIS, THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE TYPE OF, UH, COMMUNICATION I GET AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, WHEN I PUT FORTH, UM, PROPER AND LEGAL PROPOSALS FOR, UH, PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT, UH, MY DISTRICT, UM, THINGS JUST GET BLOCKED. I BELIEVE I AM PROBABLY THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT IS DEALING WITH IT TO THIS DEGREE. UM, AND THAT'S A, A DETRIMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF JAY CITY. AND, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO MANEUVER AROUND IT. UH, BUT YOU WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE LESS RED TAPE AND BUREAUCRACY IN, UH, CITY HALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS AND THE DOLLARS THAT, UH, WE ARE ALLOTTED TO BENEFIT OUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ALCORN. MAYOR. WE HAD A SPEAKER YESTERDAY, UM, TALKING ABOUT ROAD STRIPING. THIS IS GEORGE ALCORN'S NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT OF THE CITY. I CAN'T LISTEN TO IT ANYMORE. WE HAVE ONE STRIPING ROAD STRIPING MACHINE, ONE FOR OUR 16,000 LANE MILES. I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS. I DON'T KNOW, I'M, I'M GONNA DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT OR WHATEVER. WE'RE BUYING ANOTHER ROAD STRIPING MACHINE. WE SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE TWO. MAYBE WE HAVE A CONTRACT, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE A BACKLOG. THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY DANGEROUS ROADS THAT YOU CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT. IF IT'S RAINING, YOU DEFINITELY CAN'T SEE. UM, JUST BASIC SERVICE IS ROAD STRIPING. SO, UH, WHATEVER TABLE I NEED TO [03:55:01] STAND ON AND, UM, GET A ROAD STRIPING MACHINE. THERE'S, HOW MUCH ARE THEY? I'VE ASKED PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT THAT. UM, LET'S GET SOME MORE ROAD STRIPING MACHINES. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CARTER. THANK YOU. I WAS GONNA PASS, BUT SINCE I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A CONSTITUENT ABOUT ROAD STRIPING AND PARKING LOT STRIPING AT COMMUNITY CENTERS THIS MORNING, I'M GONNA SECOND THAT MOTION. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET ANOTHER MACHINE BECAUSE IT IS A HAZARD. UM, YOU KNOW, SAFETY AND ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS WHERE THERE'S PARKING AND PEOPLE ARE OVER THE LINES AND THE DOORS GET BANGED AND, BUT THE STREETS ARE, ARE PRIORITY. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. THANK YOU. UH, ONE MOMENT. ITEM 43 HAS ARRIVED. AND, UH, MADAM SECRETARY, ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE PROPOSED MOTION PASSES. NEXT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, LAST THURSDAY WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF JOINING REBUILDING TOGETHER HOUSTON FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL RISING TOGETHER EVENT. UH, I WAS JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY DEE THOMAS, CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THE ONGOING HOME REPAIR EFFORTS IN THIRD WARD. IT WAS A MEANINGFUL GATHERING THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION AND INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SPONSORS AND PARTNERS SUCH AS BP AND MEDIA ONE AND CERTAINLY, UH, T BURGERS. THEY WERE REALLY GOOD AND WE REALLY ENJOYED THAT. AND WE THANK ALL OF THE SPONSORS AND WE, UH, ARE THANKFUL THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPLIFT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. LAST NIGHT I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING A WELCOME RECEPTION FOR TAYLOR JACKSON, THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENING CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP IN THE BRIGHT FUTURE OF THE ARTS IN HOUSTON. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING TAYLOR AND HAAS'S INITIATIVES IN DISTRICT D AND BEYOND. AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, CO GLENN WHO, UH, WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AND MY ABSENCE AS WE CLOSE OUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH. I AM TRULY HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD HOARD AT THE 2025 AUDREY H LAWSON IMPACT AWARDS LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW. THIS EVENT IS TAKING PLACE ON THIS SATURDAY MARCH 1ST. SO I WILL MISS THE PARADE. AT HILTON AMERICAS, WE NORMALLY RIDE THE CARRIAGE, SO I GUESS THEY DON'T EVEN NEED THE CARRIAGE THIS TIME. IT'S A CELEBRATION OF THE LEGACY OF AUDREY LAWSON AND THE IMPACT OF BLACK LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. UM, THEN I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE MURAL DEDICATION, HONORING JUDGE TTA, BERNIE AND CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, WHICH WILL BE THIS FRIDAY AT NOON AT THE QUAD 46 0 4 ALAMEDA ROAD. ALSO ON MARCH 1ST, SHEILA JACKSON, LEE HARRIS COUNTY MUD THREE 90 ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, GROUNDBREAKING AND NAMING CEREMONY, UH, WHICH WILL BE AT 1823 ALAMEDA GENOA. AND SO CERTAINLY IF YOU CAN JOIN EITHER OF THOSE EVENTS ON MARCH THE FIRST, AND THEN, EXCUSE ME, ON SATURDAY, EXCUSE ME, ON SUNDAY, MARCH 2ND FROM FIVE TO SEVEN AT EMANCIPATION PARK. THERE WILL BE JAZZY SUNDAYS FEATURING ROBERT GLASPER AND VINCE GREER. AND CERTAINLY, UM, BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS I'M JY FOR LIFE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MIGHTY JACKIE YATES LIONS, WHO WILL BE PLAYING DISTRICT BI GUESS THAT TEAM IS CALLED WHEATLEY WILDCATS ON OUR WAY TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. AND I CERTAINLY, UH, WISH THEM WELL. AND CERTAINLY I KNOW THAT WHICHEVER TEAM COMES OUT, THEY WILL WELL REPRESENT HOUSTON, BUT I ANTICIPATE IT WILL BE THE JY LYONS. LET'S CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE UPLIFT AND SUPPORT THE INCREDIBLE WORK HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THAT CONCLUDES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION. THANK YOU. YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILOR CASTILLO. YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO INVITE, UH, DISTRICT H OUT TO MY FINAL IN-PERSON TOWN HALL FOR, UH, 2025 AS WE KICK OFF THE YEAR . UM, IT WILL BE AT THE WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER, MARCH THE FIRST 10:00 AM. UH, WE WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, CITY RESOURCES THERE. WE WILL SHARE ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2024 AND, AND WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO IN 2025. AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, SOME NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS AND, UH, TO GET MORE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, LIKE FRIENDS OF MOODY PARK, WHICH JUST, UH, KICKED OFF AND THEY'RE OFF TO A FAST START WITH SOME BIG PLANS, UH, TO HELP IMPROVE MOODY PARK AND ALSO, UH, BARRIO DOGS, UH, WHICH WILL BE THERE. [04:00:01] AND, UH, THEY'RE LOOKING TO GROW, UH, THEIR EFFORTS IN THE NORTH SIDE. SO, UH, I WANNA ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME AND PARTICIPATE MARCH 1ST, WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER, 10:00 AM AND ALSO, UM, TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISTRICT H NEWSLETTER. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, A LOT OF, OF GREAT INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, EVENTS, UM, JUST UPDATES. YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN SHARING UPDATES OUT ON, UH, THE MKT BRIDGE, UH, CLOSURE RECONSTRUCTION, AND THE, THE WHITE OAK, UH, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, UM, THAT HAS IMPACTED FOLKS USING THE GREENWAYS. SO, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION YOU CAN REACH OUT TO DISTRICT H@HOUSTONTX.GOV AND WE WILL GET YOU SIGNED UP. UM, BUT ON TOP OF, OF THE EVENTS THAT WE DO, UM, WE DO PUT OUT, UH, JUST UPDATES AROUND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT TO KEEP YOU INFORMED AND AWARE AND, UH, WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SIGN UP FOR THAT. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CAYMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, FIRST, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UH, TODAY TO, UH, JACOB MATA, WHO IS ON OUR TEAM. HE'S OUR NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR. VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JACOB. AND OF COURSE, A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILE, UH, WHO CELEBRATED HIS BIRTHDAY OVER THE WEEKEND. SO I HOPE IT WAS A GREAT ONE. I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO JOINED DISTRICT C FOR OUR ERE RECYCLING EVENT. UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO, OVER 150 CARS PARTICIPATED, SAVING OVER 5,000 POUNDS OF ELECTRONICS, UH, DIVERTING THEM FROM LANDFILLS. SO IT SAVES HOUSTON MONEY AND IT'S GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. UH, THANK YOU. BIG THANK YOU TO SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, UH, DESMOND ALLEN AND DEANDRE HUDDLESTON. THEY ARE JUST THE ULTIMATE, UH, TEAM PLAYERS. HPD WAS THERE TO HELP WITH TRAFFIC. UH, ALL SAINTS CHURCH FATHER S AND PEDRO ARE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY APPROACHED US SEVERAL YEARS AGO ABOUT PARTNERING ON THESE EVENTS. SO IT REALLY WAS THEIR IDEA THAT WE HELPED BRING TO FRUITION, UH, AS WELL AS VOLUNTEERS FROM THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND OUR PARTNER WITH COMPUS CYCLE MAYOR. A FEW, UH, ISSUES TO SPOTLIGHT. THERE WAS ANOTHER SHOOTING ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE, UH, OVER THE WEEKEND. UH, WE RECEIVED, I'M SURE YOU ALSO RECEIVED A NUMBER OF EMAILS VOICING CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. SO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE. UH, I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH HPD AND I KNOW CENTRAL, UH, AND CAPTAIN KENNEDY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN, UH, TO PUT AS MANY RESOURCES THERE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAD RESIDENTS COME TO TALK ABOUT THE BARS, LONG, SHADY ACRES AND TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS THERE. SO I KNOW THAT HPD IS STRETCHED THIN, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THIS, AND I'M CONTINUING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OVERTIME FUNDING. UH, TO THAT END, UH, THE ENGAGE HOUSTON WEBSITE HAS BEEN DOWN NOW, I THINK FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. UH, IT SAYS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON A NEW SYSTEM FOR IT, BUT DO WE MAY OR HAVE ANY TIMELINE AS TO WHEN IT'LL BE BACK ONLINE? WE'LL, OKAY, I APPRECIATE IT. IT'S JUST, IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PROJECTS, THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP IT CURRENT, AND THAT'S THE REASON I WENT OFFLINE. UNDERSTOOD. IT JUST WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE A TIMELINE OF WHEN IT'S COMING BACK. SURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN, UM, IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WITH THE DAMAGE TO THE BRIDGES PUBLIC WORKS IS BEING SO DILIGENT AND RESPONSIVE AND TRYING TO GET, UM, BOTH MKT BRIDGES, UH, UP AND RUNNING FROM THE DAMAGE THAT WAS SUSTAINED. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT WE AS A CITY FACE, I HAD READ, AND IT COULD BE JUST INACCURATE, UM, THAT THE CITY WAS HAVING TO PAY FOR SOME OF THE REPAIRS. AND THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR CITY LEGAL, BUT IF IT WAS TEXT DOTS EQUIPMENT THAT HAD DAMAGED THOSE BRIDGES AND WASN'T SECURED, UH, ARE WE RECOUPING THOSE DOLLARS FROM, FROM TXDOT? SO AGAIN, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SUBMIT THAT IN WRITING. IT'S JUST WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR OUR BASIC SERVICES, UH, I'D HOPE THAT THOSE WHO CAUSED THE DAMAGE OR PAYING FOR THAT DAMAGE, THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE RESIDENTS KNEW ABOUT THE WASHINGTON AVENUE CORRIDOR STUDY. UM, WITH, WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH HGAC AND THERE'S ANOTHER COMMUNITY INPUT OPPORTUNITY AS WE LOOK AT SAFETY ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE AND HOW WE CAN UTILIZE INFRASTRUCTURE TO CREATE A SAFER SPACE FOR ALL MARCH 6TH, IN PERSON AT MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY FROM SIX TO 7:30 PM AND THEN THERE WILL BE A VIRTUAL MEETING. YOU CAN GO TO ENGAGE DOT H G.COM, BUT THERE'S SOME HYPHENS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE'LL SHARE THAT OUT ONLINE. THAT'S VIRTUALLY MARCH 19TH AS A REMINDER, UH, HOUSTON OPEN IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING. UH, WE WILL HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, UH, ABOUT TRAFFIC PLAN, PARKING PLAN IN AND AROUND [04:05:01] MEMORIAL PARK. UH, SO WE WILL BE PUTTING THAT INFORMATION OUT AS WELL AS TO WHEN THAT COMMUNITY MEETING IS VERY EXCITING NEWS. UH, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FOURTH WARD IS BEING, UH, REVIVED AFTER QUITE SOME TIME, UH, THANKS TO RESIDENTS AND THAT, AND LEADERS IN FRIEDMANS TOWN, UH, WHO ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS VOICES ARE HEARD. THEIR FIRST MEETING IS GOING TO BE TONIGHT FEBRUARY 20. YEAH. SO TONIGHT IT'S 6:00 PM AT ROSE OF SHARON, UH, ON VALENTINE. UH, LASTLY ON ENGAGEMENT RE WITH THE EFFORT TO RENAME TERMINAL E, UH, AT INTERCONTINENTAL, UH, IN HONOR OF THE LATE GREAT CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, IT'S NOW TIME WE, AS COUNSEL, PASSED, UM, A RESOLUTION. IT'S NOW TIME FOR THE RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, COMMENT AND MAKE THAT REQUEST. SO YOU CAN GO TO FLY TO HOUSTON.COM, UH, TO SHARE YOUR, PROVIDE YOUR PUBLIC INPUT ON THE RENAMING OF TERMINAL E. ALSO, A REMINDER FOR RESIDENTS WITH GO TEXAN DAY AND THE RODEO PARADE IN DISTRICT C. UH, LOTS OF ROAD CLOSURES AROUND THE PARK, AROUND THE TRAIL RIDE. UH, SO PLEASE BE AWARE OF ALL OF THOSE ROAD CLOSURES AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, THE EIGHT DISTRICT C RECIPIENTS THIS YEAR. UH, WITH THE GOOD BRICK AWARDS THAT ARE HOSTED BY PRESERVATION HOUSTON THIS WEEK. UH, DISTRICT C ALWAYS HAS A GREAT REPRESENTATION AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS. AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILOR HUFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, ON SATURDAY, I ATTENDED THE TEEN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT PUT ON BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE MONTE DE ALA'S OFFICE FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ALL ACROSS HOUSTON. UH, IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE TURNOUT. I THINK IT WAS THE LARGEST ATTENDANCE THEY'D EVER HAD. THERE WERE SOME GREAT SPEAKERS TO INSPIRE THESE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR WHO WAS THERE, AND, UH, MADE REMARKS TO THE HIGH SCHOOLERS AS WELL. UM, HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS THERE, I GOT A CALL FROM HOUSTON CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL. THERE WAS ABOUT 200 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GETTING READY TO PUT ON A PERFORMANCE. THEY HAD RENTED OUT AN AUDITORIUM. THERE WERE JUDGES COMING IN TO JUDGE THIS THEATER COMPETITION AT HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. AND, UH, THEY WERE PANICKED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER, UH, TO A FEW BUILDINGS AT THE UNIVERSITY. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO CENTERPOINT, TO PAUL LOCK TO OLIVIA CHRIS, WHO REALLY WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THIS PERFORMANCE WAS ABLE TO GO ON. IT WAS STARTED A LITTLE LATE, UH, BUT THEY WERE SO VERY APPRECIATIVE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND MEMBERS, ITEM 48 HAS ARRIVED JUST IN TIME, 48. ITEM 48 ISN'T ORDINANCE, JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NA. MOTION PASSES. COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, LAST WEEK HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND, UH, THE FIRE ACADEMY GRADUATION WITH YOU MAYOR AND SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES. AND, UH, IN THE WAKE OF THAT, WE NOW HAVE 70 MORE FIREFIGHTERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH IS A GREAT THING. AND I THINK BACK TO LAST YEAR, WE SPENT A NUMBER OF MONTHS DEBATING, DISCUSSING, FIGHTING OVER THE PROPOSED, UH, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION. UH, THAT WAS NECESSITATED BY, UH, POOR ACTION BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. AND, UM, THIS IS AN OUTGROWTH OF THAT. IT WAS, IT WAS, UH, A DIFFICULT PILL TO SWALLOW TO HAVE TO AGREE TO A SETTLEMENT THAT WAS SO LARGE. UH, BUT WE DID THAT UNDERSTANDING. WE COULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT MORE, UH, IF WE HAD GONE TO TRIAL. AND SO AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IS NOW A MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO WORK THAN EVER MM-HMM . AND WE'RE SEEING THAT IN THE LAST FEW ACADEMY CLASSES. UH, AND, AND THAT'S A GREAT THING. SO I HOPE THAT CONTINUES AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO BE AT FULL STRENGTH IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT VERY SOON. I SAY THAT WHILE THE POLICE UNION AND THE CITY ARE NEGOTIATING ON A NEW CONTRACT, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS, AND I EXPECT THAT THE RESULT OF THAT WILL BE, UH, RAISES FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS. AND I HOPE AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS, WE CAN SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT IT IS A MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO WORK BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN PAYING MORE AND, AND TAKING THOSE CANDIDATES THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ON OUR, ON OUR POLICE FORCE. AND SO HOPEFULLY, UM, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS NEGOTIATION, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO PASS, UH, UH, THE, UH, THE AGREEMENT AND, UH, BEEF UP OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL BENEFIT THE CITY. SECOND THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT MAYOR, IS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS RECENTLY FROM RESIDENTS ON THE EAST SIDE ABOUT THE ABANDONMENT OF POLK STREET. AND I, I FULLY [04:10:01] SUPPORT, UM, THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CITY AND DOWNTOWN AND OUR CONVENTION BUSINESS. UM, BUT I AM SYMPATHETIC TO THE FOLKS WHO LIVE THERE ON THE EAST END. AS SOMEONE WHO GOES TO THE EAST END FREQUENTLY, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE EAST END AND DIFFICULT TO GET AROUND IN THE EAST END DUE TO THE RAIL LINES AND ALL THAT. AND SO I JUST HOPE THAT ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THIS WILL PUT THEIR THINKING CAPS ON AND GET CREATIVE AND COME UP WITH A WAY WHERE WE CAN ENJOY THAT SAME GROWTH, UM, UH, AND ROBUSTNESS OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHILE ALSO TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, THE NEEDS OF THOSE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE EAST END. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. LET ME THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE FIREFIGHTERS, UH, CADET CLASS. IT WAS 76 LARGEST IN HISTORY. UH, WHEN I GOT HERE AND WE WENT TO OUR FIRST CADET CLASS, THERE WAS 31. UH, AND MOST OF THEM WERE, WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THEY PLANNED TO GO WORK IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION. SO WHAT WE DID IS WORKING, NOW WE KNOW WE HAD CRITICS OF, OF THE CONTRACT AND THE, UM, SETTLEMENT. WE DIDN'T NEED AN LA TRAGEDY TO KNOW HOW VALUABLE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS. SO THAT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IT'S, UH, CERTAINLY MAKING HOUSTON A SAFER PLACE TO WORK AND LIVE. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE. THEY APPRECIATE IT AND UH, IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. WITH THAT SAID, WE UM, STAND AND RE ADJOURN. WE HAVE 40 IN. I'M SORRY. DO WHAT? ITEM NUMBER 40. JUST WALKED IN IF WE CAN. DO WE STILL HAVE QUORUM? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. OKAY. WE STILL HAVE FORUM. PLEASE COME TO ORDER. WE HAVE A QUORUM. UH, YOU WANNA READ ITEM 40? ITEM 40 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY YES. THOSE OPPOSED NAY. MOTION PASSES AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.